Chelsea drop vice-captain Enzo Fernandez for ‘crossing a line’

Chelsea have dropped Enzo Fernandez for matches against Port Vale and Manchester City after comments that cast doubt over his long-term future at the club.

Manager Liam Rosenior confirmed the decision during a press conference on Friday.

The Argentina international will miss Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Rosenior explained that the decision followed remarks made by the vice-captain during recent media interviews.

“I spoke with Enzo an hour ago,” Rosenior said. “As a football club, with me as part of that process, we have made a decision.”

The Chelsea manager added that the disciplinary action was linked to comments he felt crossed a line within the club’s culture.

“I think for Enzo it is disappointing to speak in that way,” Rosenior added.

“As a character and a person, I have no bad words to say about him. But a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.”

Fernandez raised questions about his future after Chelsea’s heavy Paris Saint-Germain defeat in the Champions League.

Speaking after the loss, the midfielder admitted uncertainty about whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the current campaign.

“I do not know,” he said when asked about his future. “There are eight games left and the FA Cup and then the World Cup, and we will see.”

The 25-year-old also expressed disappointment at the club’s decision earlier in the season to part ways with former manager Enzo Maresca.

“Obviously, it hurt us a lot because he had given us an identity and a structure,” Fernandez added.

Chelsea replaced Maresca with Rosenior in January after a difficult run of results.

Fernandez has remained a regular presence in the team despite the club’s recent struggles.

He captained Chelsea during their Premier League defeat to Everton before the international break.

However, Rosenior suggested the emotional fallout from the Champions League elimination had contributed to tension within the squad.

“It has been a really difficult ten days, probably the most difficult ten days of my career as a player or a coach,” he said.

Chelsea have lost their last four matches across all competitions following the Champions League exit and league defeats to Newcastle United and Everton.

Rosenior insisted that Fernandez’s absence does not represent a permanent break with the team.

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League table and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.