Enzo Fernandez dropped from Chelsea squad over Real Madrid move comments | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has dropped Enzo Fernandez from the squad for their next two games after comments in which the midfielder fuelled speculation over a move to Real Madrid in the summer.

Fernandez said after Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Paris St-Germain that he did not know whether he would remain at the club next season, saying: “There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There's the World Cup and then we'll see.”

The Argentine then commented in a recent interview than he would “like to live in Spain, I really like Madrid. It’s similar to Buenos Aires.”

Rosenior and the Chelsea hierarchy have responded by dropping Fernandez for their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and Premier League clash against Manchester City next Sunday, saying “a line was crossed”.

Rosenior said on Friday: “I spoke with Enzo about an hour ago. As a football club, with me as part of the decision, he won't be available for tomorrow's game or Manchester City next Sunday.

“It's disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.

“Enzo, firstly, as a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect for what he has achieved and what he is as a player. He's frustrated because he wants us to be successful.

“In terms of the decision, it's not all about me, or the sporting directors, the ownership, the players, we are aligned in every decision that we make. It was a joint decision. The door is not closed on Enzo. It's a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed in the international break.”

Chelsea lost to PSG in both legs of their Champions League quarter-final, suffering a chastening 8-2 scoreline on aggregate, and lost to Newcastle at home in the Premier League in between those two legs.

They then endured a 3-0 drubbing by Everton to cap a remarkable decline in form in recent weeks.

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Marc Cucurella also said an offer from former club Barcelona would be ‘hard to turn down’ (AP)

Amidst that backdrop Fernandez’s teammate Marc Cucurella has also fuelled rumours that he is angling for a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The former Barcelona player said it would be “hard to turn down” a return offer from the club, saying: “Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up and you always think about going back.

“But I would [prefer to] leave it for a few years down the line. I am very happy here and it is a great life experience."

Further pushed on the topic, he added: “It is clear if that situation did arise, it is hard to turn down, but I would have to consider it in the end.”

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Fernandez has hinted he could leave Chelsea this summer (Reuters)

Rosenior alluded to Cucurella’s comments in his press conference on Friday, saying: “The players were motivated that we could do something really special in the Champions League. The comments from Enzo and Marc Cucurella's interview both stem from that. It actually stems from a good place where they want the club to succeed.

“But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group of players.”

He returned again to the idea of emotional stability, saying the club would recruit “players with emotional stability, bringing good characters who can, in difficult moments, understand what is needed to win”.

The former Strasbourg boss said Cucurella was a “separate case” and would be “available and involved” on Saturday.

“He is passionate and he wants to do well. It was a long interview. He spoke his mind. When I was with him yesterday, I reminded him he can be honest with me. That takes time. To build those relationships, it takes time.

"Marc is fully committed. He wants to be here. He has made that very, very clear to me and he believes in where we are going."

Rosenior added that he did not question Fernandez’s commitment to the club, adding: “Even at Everton when we lost the game, there was no lack of commitment in [his] performance.

“In terms of speaking for him, what he wants and his future, it's not for me to speak about. I want to focus on a massive tomorrow where we can make an FA Cup semi-final.”