‘A line was crossed’ – Rosenior drops Fernandez over Madrid comments

Pressure continues to mount on Liam Rosenior after he made the bold decision to exclude Enzo Fernández from Chelsea’s FA Cup clash with Port Vale, declaring that “a line was crossed” following the midfielder’s recent conduct.

Chelsea head into the weekend desperate to halt a worrying slide, with the FA Cup now representing their most realistic chance of salvaging silverware this season.

Hosting lower-league opposition at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC are overwhelming favourites on paper, yet the mood around the club tells a different story after a string of poor results.

Rosenior, who only assumed control earlier this year, acknowledged the significance of the competition but was quick to shift focus away from personal ambition.

“We want to win. It’s not about me – it’s not about me winning silverware, it’s about the club being successful now and in the long term,” he said, while also providing updates on returning players, with several edging closer to full fitness.

However, the biggest talking point came with his firm stance on Fernández. The Argentine has been at the centre of speculation linking him with a potential move away, and his recent actions appear to have tested the manager’s patience.

Rosenior confirmed the midfielder would miss not only the FA Cup tie but also the upcoming league encounter against Manchester City.

“I spoke with Enzo an hour ago. As a football club, with me as part of the decision, he won’t be available for tomorrow’s game or Manchester City next Sunday. A line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” Rosenior explained.

The Chelsea boss suggested the situation has been exacerbated by a turbulent run of form, pointing to an emotional collapse that began during a heavy setback against Paris Saint-Germain and spilled into subsequent matches.

While he hinted that comments from players stemmed from a desire to see the club succeed, he stressed the need for greater composure within the squad.