Liam Rosenior has responded to Enzo Fernandez’s agent Javier Pastore claiming that the midfielder’s Chelsea ban is “completely unfair”.
Fernandez was on Friday morning informed during a meeting with Rosenior that he was being dropped for Chelsea’s next two matches, against Port Vale - which they won 7-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday evening - and Manchester City next weekend.
It was a punishment for comments made by Fernandez during multiple interviews over the international break, which appeared to cast doubt on his future at Stamford Bridge amid transfer interest from Real Madrid.
Pastore, Fernandez’s agent, gave an interview to The Athletic later the same day where he was quoted as calling the punishment “completely unfair”.
Asked to respond to Pastore’s criticism of the sanction handed down to his client Fernandez, Rosenior said after the rout of Port Vale, which the midfielder watched from behind the bench: “That's his opinion. I don't have anything to say on someone else's opinion.
“Enzo knows what I think of him and it was brilliant to see him here to support the players today. We'll move forward and make sure we have a really good run-in in the season.”
Asked if Fernandez had apologised to Rosenior and his Chelsea team-mates, the head coach added: “I said yesterday, the conversations I have with my individual players, with Enzo, with anyone in the squad when it comes to things like this, stay within.
“The dressing room is sacred. I made it really clear yesterday what I think of him as a person. He's a top, top guy.
“But at the same time, I want us now to focus on the football and achieve what we want to achieve through the season.”
Rosenior was also asked whether Fernandez though his punishment was unfair.
“In the right time, in the right moment, which isn't now, going through what we've gone through, I'm sure the discussion will happen in terms of what's been said between me and Enzo,” Rosenior said.
“Enzo and I are in a very good place. I saw him today, had a really good conversation with him today one-to-one, and things aren't what people maybe think they are.”
