Liam Rosenior provides Enzo Fernandez ban update as Chelsea overcome 'hurdle'

Enzo Fernandez was on the sidelines as Manchester City stormed past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Liam Rosenior has provided an update on Enzo Fernandez's future at Chelsea. The 25-year-old midfielder, who had cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge during the international break, served the final game of his in-house two-match suspension as Manchester City stormed past the Blues on Sunday afternoon.

Sitting beside Filip Jorgensen and Levi Colwill, Fernandez watched on from the sidelines as Pep Guardiola's side enjoyed a 3-0 win. During an interview with Sky Sports after the game, Rosenior was asked whether Chelsea missed the Argentine playmaker.

"Any team will miss Enzo," said the Blues boss. "Myself backed by the leadership group and sporting directors made a decision for the long-term of the club.

"There's nothing personal with Enzo. He will be back with the group on Tuesday. He is a top, top player and a really good guy. Really looking forward to having him back."

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Speaking to reporters at Cobham on Friday afternoon, Rosenior claimed there are 'still a few hurdles that need to be overcome' before Fernandez can be reintegrated. When quizzed on the remark, the Chelsea boss said: "The hurdle I spoke about...

"Enzo wanted to have a conversation with the leadership group – the main players of the group – and speak to the players. The time I had the press conference, he hadn't done that yet.

"He has spoken with me, the leadership group and all of the players, and we look forward to welcoming him back."

Then, in the post-match press conference, Rosenior slightly changed his tune when asked – again – whether Fernandez could have made a difference. The Chelsea boss said: "Possibly. Possibly, in hindsight, you see 20-20 in hindsight.

"Enzo's a top player, and honestly, he's a top character, and I'm looking forward to having him back next week. Sometimes you make decisions not based on the short-term, you make decisions based on what you want to see long-term.

"And it was a long-term decision that myself and the directors and the club aligned and the leadership group of players that we made to make sure that our values and our culture in the long-term is in the right place.

"But Enzo has had the conversations he's needed to have. He's been fantastic in the last few days in supporting myself and the team, and I can't wait to have him back in the squad."

And on the result, Rosenior said: "Massively disappointing, especially because of the first-half performance, but it's happened too many times where Man City started the second half better than us.

"That can happen against a good team, but what you can't do is concede two goals in the manner that we did so quickly, one after the other.

"And again, it comes down to resilience in difficult moments and seeing those moments through and making sure you're still in the game."