Enzo Fernandez will remain Chelsea’s vice-captain despite being punished by the club over comments regarding his future, Liam Rosenior has confirmed.
The World Cup winner was informed by the Chelsea head coach on Friday morning that he has been dropped for upcoming games against Port Vale, in the FA Cup on Saturday, and Manchester City, in the Premier League next Sunday, as a punishment for bombshell comments made during the international break.
In three separate interviews across the last fortnight, the midfielder threw his Chelsea future into doubt and publicly invited Real Madrid to pursue a deal to sign him, having made unprovoked comments about legendary Los Blancos players and underlined his interest in living in the Spanish capital.
When asked whether Fernandez would also be stripped of the Chelsea vice-captaincy, Rosenior said: “Enzo is still part of the leadership group.
“I've said before, this is a sanction for pretty much one week, where he will miss Man City.
“Then we'll see after that. For me, I won't be stripping him of anything because he doesn't deserve that.”
Asked whether he will train separately from the first team or with him, he said: “He'll still be here, he’ll still train, he’s still a part of the group, for sure.”
Many will believe the comments — described by his own head coach as “a line crossed” — signify a point of no return for Fernandez at Chelsea, but Rosenior was insistent that the Argentine had a future at the club.
Asked whether there is any way back for Fernandez at Chelsea, Rosenior said: “Yes, for sure.”
