03 Apr 2026 16:10:06
Paul Merson has slammed Liam Rosenior's decision to drop midfielder Enzo Fernandez for the next two games following comments made regarding his future and links to Real Madrid.
Rosenior said that "a line was crossed" when Fernandez refused to rule out a move to the Spanish capital when speaking to Argentine media. As a result, he will miss the FA Cup tie with Port Vale and the following Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Marc Cucurella remains available despite his public criticisms of the club's transfer policy and questioned the departure of former boss Enzo Maresca, and Merson believes that Rosenior is making a mistake punishing Fernandez.
“I think more’s gone on than that. I think Enzo has sat down with him and told him "I want to leave," he claimed on Soccer Special.
"I’ve seen Cucurella have a meeting with him. But Enzo has gone in and said I want to leave."
“One thing you have to do as a manager is never chop your nose off to spite your face. Let the fans look after that situation. Not you. The fans will let you know if they are unhappy with Enzo. But play him on the pitch. He is one of Chelsea’s best players. It’s disappointing as a Chelsea fans, and it’s only good news for Man City.”
03 Apr 2026 17:03:45
Tend to agree somewhat.
Liam said we have plans for the summer to add "emotional stable" players (guy can't help himself), and then we go and drop a player because he said he would love to live in a specific city that reminds him of Buenos Aires.
Players hinting at moves is nothing new in football, and it does seem a bit like the club is acting like a teenager who saw their crush look at someone else.
Some would say it was an emotional response.
If Enzo came out and said he wants to leave the club and go to Madrid, while we have things to play for, I would agree that that is crossing a line. He seems to be dancing around it, as well as all the Madrid lovers do.
03 Apr 2026 17:23:36
Dangerous times for the CFC project. Not a bad sign if LR was not able to talk to EF, and at least get an agreement for EF not to speak out like this again in public. If EF is refusing to be reasonable, then LR may have had to try and assert himself in this way.
Problem is that EF certainly has been one of our best players, one of the few leaders in the team, and not to have him on the pitch v City seems stupid. LR may be shooting his own career prospects at CFC in the foot.
03 Apr 2026 17:38:55
This has now come out.
Enzo Fernández's agent Javier Pastore: "The punishment is completely unfair", told @TheAthleticFC.
"Enzo didn't understand the situation. He did not mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it".
"He only mentions Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he'd like to live in one day, and he said Madrid
but at no point does he say he wants to leave Chelsea or London".
It looks to me that Liam is yet again making a total tool of himself, he is trying to big himself up, stamp his feet as if he is prime Sir Alex and play the big boss, I remember AVB doing the same years ago and he too was so far out of his depth. The press will have a field day with this and if it turns ugly tomorrow I can hear chants of "ole Enzo Fernandez" ringing around the bridge.
03 Apr 2026 18:02:44
Does look as though Liam Rosenior is shooting himself and the club in the foot.
Though, perhaps, an interview given by Enzo Fernandez's agent is not the most reliable source of objective truth about this spat.
In an earlier post, I had meant to write 'not a good sign', but seem to have written 'not a bad sign'. Perhaps cos hard to see much good right now?!
03 Apr 2026 18:36:32
I'm not sure how anyone can work out that "Liam has made a total fool of himself?"
We have no idea what has been said in the meeting between the manager and the
player, but I guess if a fan wants the manager sacked, the agent's supposed defence of his client is predictable.
From what we know as fact, I wouldn't play Enzo for a lot more than two games, and I'm a fan of his.
{Ed025's Note - i want to know why flock head was not in the same dock Tom?..
03 Apr 2026 19:03:11
You could have given a one match ban, against Port Vale, obviously symbolic in nature, but at least you can say it was addressed and now we move on. The ban for the City game just offers up another potential stick with which he can be beaten with.
I don't have a major issue with selling Fernandez, it will be for decent money, and I think there are better options for our midfield on the market. I don't think this has been handled well, though, not well at all.