Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior addressed the media at the club’s Cobham training ground on Friday, confirming that captain Enzo Fernandez will remain suspended for the Premier League encounter against Manchester City on Sunday, April 13.
The suspension stems from controversial remarks made by the 2022 World Cup winner during the international break concerning his future at Stamford Bridge — comments Rosenior previously described as “crossing a line.” Fernandez and his agent, Javier Pastore, have since withdrawn their initial criticisms of the club’s decision and issued formal apologies.
“I’ve had a really good conversation [with Enzo], I’ve had three or four with Enzo. He’s apologised to me, to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday,” Rosenior told reporters.
Despite acknowledging the apology and the private conversations held with the Argentine midfielder, Rosenior made clear that the sanction will not be reduced or lifted ahead of the City fixture. “I believe people make mistakes, and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake,” the Chelsea manager said, adding that he was not questioning Fernandez’s character or personal integrity throughout the process.
Fernandez was also absent from Chelsea’s 7–0 FA Cup victory over Port Vale last weekend, meaning the midfielder has now missed at least two consecutive matches under the disciplinary measure. The timing of the suspension is significant, with Sunday’s clash against Manchester City representing one of the more high-profile fixtures in Chelsea’s remaining Premier League schedule.
Rosenior indicated that while some outstanding issues remain unresolved, he continues to view Fernandez as a key figure in the squad going forward. “No, he won’t play on Sunday. But hopefully, after that, he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward. There are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into. But at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in,” he said.
Fernandez joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Benfica in a deal reportedly worth around £106.8 million — a British transfer record at the time. The Argentine has been one of the club’s most prominent figures since his arrival, captaining the side during what has been a turbulent period at Stamford Bridge under multiple managerial changes in recent seasons.
Rosenior, who took charge of the club during the current campaign, faces the task of navigating the remainder of the Premier League season without one of his most influential players for at least one further fixture. Chelsea’s form and league position heading into the Manchester City match make Sunday’s result particularly consequential, with Rosenior referencing a “huge run-in” as the club looks to secure a strong finish to the campaign.
