Chelsea's Fernandez Misses Man City Clash on Suspension

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior confirmed Friday that midfielder Enzo Fernandez will miss Sunday's Premier League match against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, upholding a two-game internal suspension despite the player's apology for recent comments fueling speculation about his future.

The 25-year-old Argentina international, who joined Chelsea from Benfica in early 2023 for a British record fee of 107 million pounds, has been absent since last weekend's 7-0 FA Cup quarterfinal victory over Port Vale. His exclusion stems from remarks made during the recent international break, where Fernandez expressed a desire to live in Madrid and hinted at a potential departure after the World Cup. Those statements followed earlier criticism of the club's managerial change, including the departure of previous coach Enzo Maresca, and raised questions about his commitment amid long-standing interest from Real Madrid.

Rosenior, who took over in January, described multiple conversations with Fernandez as serious discussions about a serious matter. "He's apologised to me, he's apologised to the club," Rosenior told reporters. He emphasized that the punishment fits the mistake without...