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Enzo Fernandez raised eyebrows when he refused to commit his future at Chelsea following a humiliating defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but can you really blame him?
Enzo Fernandez should know better than to cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge, but it's about time that a member of the Chelsea leadership group challenged the shot-callers on the direction of the club.
In the absence of Reece James, the 25-year-old midfielder captained the Blues to a humiliating defeat on Tuesday night. The west Londoners crashed out of the UEFA Champions League, losing 8-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in what was the club's joint-worst result on the European stage.
Although Fernandez, who Chelsea signed from Benfica for £106million in February 2023, is under contract until June 2032, he couldn't provide any guarantee that he'll still be at Stamford Bridge next season. In an interview with ESPN after the game, the Argentina international raised eyebrows when quizzed on his future.
"I don't know," said Fernandez. "My focus is here for now. We have eight Premier League matches to play and the FA Cup. Then, the World Cup is coming up, so we'll see after that."
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Taking a subtle dig at Liam Rosenior, who proved no match for Luis Enrique, Fernandez said: "I think we failed to control the game. In the first leg, we lost focus in the final 15 minutes and conceded three goals, and here it happened at the very start.
"At this level, you can't concede two goals so quickly because of small details. Ultimately, over the two legs, PSG were the better side and deserve to go through."
Fernandez added: "Since I arrived at Chelsea we have already passed through similar situations and we were able to turn them around. Now, our focus must be on winning the FA Cup and achieving our goal of qualifying for next season's Champions League."
All Fernandez had to do was commit his future to Chelsea for the time being, even if he had plans of moving in the summer, just to protect the club – on and off the pitch – from unnecessary pressure ahead of what already looked set to be a difficult end to the season.
But instead, the Argentine pulled back the curtain and opened the door to undue tension, which will only compound over the upcoming international break, thus hampering any chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season – let alone any silverware!
By refusing to shut down speculation about his future, Fernandez has essentially invited his teammates to break their silence and reveal how they really feel about the club's direction – voluntarily or not.
While the Chelsea midfielder should, of course, know better as the vice captain, it's about time that a member of the leadership group lit a fire under the shot-callers at Stamford Bridge. Although Fernandez has put the Blues in a difficult place, perhaps his comments will force higher-ups to reassess the 'project' in west London.
The Argentine arrived as the face of a new era with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and yet he's still kept his end of the bargain. If he were to find a new club in the summer, he would leave Chelsea with his head held high.
Fernandez joined the Blues at their lowest point, yet he still became a world champion on both the domestic and international stage. He's played under five different managers, but only one of whom was capable of locking horns with the very best at the very highest level.
He put his body on the line, playing through a groin injury, which later required surgery, to give Chelsea the best chance of getting back into a UEFA club competition. Fernandez went on to lead the west Londoners to glory in the Conference League, helping them become the first club to win each of the five major European trophies.
The Argentine has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, so it will come as no surprise when the likes of Real Madrid and PSG inevitably come knocking with an eye-watering bid in the summer.
If Fernandez were to accept such an offer, could you blame him? No. Have the Chelsea owners done enough to keep a player of his stature at Stamford Bridge? No.
Of course, Fernandez shouldn't cast doubt over his future. But can you blame him after such a humiliating defeat in the last-16 of the Champions League? No. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.
And the actions of higher-ups at Stamford Bridge – whether that be the players they have or haven't signed, and the managers they have and haven't appointed – have led to this sliding doors moment.
Will the Chelsea owners stick or twist?
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