Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Friday, April 10, 2026 6:02 p.m. / Updated Friday, April 10, 2026 6:09 p.m.
Liam Rosenior (41 years old), the coach of Chelsea, announced that Enzo Fernandez (25 years old) will miss the match with Manchester City, in the 32nd stage of the Premier League.
The midfielder is serving the second of two domestic suspensions imposed by the club following his comments about a possible move to Real Madrid.
Enzo Fernandez will miss the match between Chelsea and Manchester City
The controversy arose after Enzo Fernandez hinted at a possible move to Real Madrid. In an interview with ESPN Argentina after the Champions League defeat to PSG (2-8 overall) and again during the international break, the former Benfica player confessed: “I would like to live in Spain, I really like Madrid.”
These statements prompted Chelsea to apply an internal sanction. The midfielder has already missed the FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and will remain unavailable for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Liam Rosenior has revealed that he has had discussions with the player.
“I had three or four very good talks with Enzo,” said the technician. “He apologized to me and he apologized to the club. We will manage the situation after a very important game on Sunday.” The Chelsea manager stressed the seriousness of the matter but defended the player's character.
“It was a serious meeting about something very serious. I don't question Enzo's character. I think people make mistakes. But you can't ignore the punishment for a mistake,” Rosenior explained, adding, “What I want for Enzo is for him to go on and have an outstanding career.”
Asked if the club would be putting themselves at a disadvantage by not using one of their best players, Rosenior was adamant: “No. I have an exceptional squad. Full of exceptional players. Football is a team sport.”
The coach reiterated the importance of the club's values: “There are certain values and a culture that I believe in, and that this club believes in, that make the team stronger if we respect them.”
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