Chelsea drop Enzo Fernandez for two matches after public comments on future

[p]The Argentine World ‌Cup winner has been axed for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=nHVoqg0K"]Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/port-vale/U3lM3y4e/"]Port ‌Vale[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=bLP5yET8"]next Sunday's Premier League clash[/a] with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester ‌City[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Fernandez[/a], who has been wearing the captain's armband in the absence ‌of injured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-reece/nLBC7ERa/"]Reece James[/a], said he would [b]"look at his ‌options after the World Cup"[/b] and expressed a desire to live in Spain.[/p][p][b]"I spoke with Enzo an hour ago. As a football club, ‌with me as part of that process, ⁠we've made a decision ‌he won't be available for tomorrow's game (against Port Vale) and he ​won't be available for Manchester City next Sunday," [/b]Rosenior told reporters.[/p][p]The 25-year-old midfielder, who is contracted until 2032, ​has been linked with a move to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], though he denied talks with the Spanish club were taking ⁠place.[/p][embed guid="0f73a449-d92e-421c-a1d2-ab81692bba79" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2040019717251838442" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Disappointing' leadership[/h2][p]Rosenior described Fernandez's ​public comments as "disappointing" given his leadership role during [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a]'s current problems.[/p][p]The Blues have lost four consecutive games, exiting the Champions League in an 8-2 aggregate humiliation by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] ‌and have slumped to sixth in the Premier League.[/p][p][b]"I think for Enzo it's disappointing to speak in that way. What I will say about Enzo is that, in terms of him as a person, I've got no bad words to say,"[/b] Rosenior added.[/p][p][b]"But a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build, so we had to make a sanction."[/b][/p][embed guid="624ddbdf-57c0-4679-a7da-f77d01db46a2" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2040018125769588898" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Telegraph reported that several ‌Chelsea players were unimpressed by Fernandez berating his teammates on ​the pitch.[/p][p][b]"The door is not closed on Enzo, that's ‌very important. It's a sanction,"[/b] Rosenior said. [b]"You have to protect this club and culture,"[/b] he said. [b]"The line was crossed in the international break.[/b][/p][p][b]"What I do know is that when he's been on the pitch, even in the ⁠loss at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a], there ⁠was no lack of ‌commitment in his performance."[/b][/p]