Gary Lineker defends Chelsea star after ‘odd’ Liam Rosenior decision | Football

Gary Lineker has defended Enzo Fernandez after he fuelled speculation he wanted to go away Chelsea and suggested he was keen on joining Real Madrid.

Fernandez, who has frequently captained the Blues, first solid doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to PSG.

Asked if he could guarantee that he will likely be a Chelsea player next season, Fernandez told ESPN: ‘I don’t know, I don’t know.

‘There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup after which we’ll see.’

Fernandez made an identical comment when directly asked about speculation linking him with Real Madrid later within the month.

In one other not-so-subtle transfer hint, the Argentine World Cup winner recently said he would ‘like’ to live in Madrid sooner or later.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior said Fernandez had ‘crossed a line’ along with his comments and opted to drop the midfielder for 2 games.

Fernandez subsequently watched on from the stands as Chelsea thrashed Port Vale 7-0 within the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday and may even sit out of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.

‘It’s disappointing for Enzo to talk that way,’ said Rosenior, who took over from Enzo Maresca at Chelsea in January.

‘I actually have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed when it comes to our culture and what we would like to construct.

‘As a personality, an individual and a player, I actually have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to achieve success.

‘When it comes to the choice, it’s not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we’re aligned in our decision.

‘The door just isn’t closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have got to guard the culture, and when it comes to that, a line was crossed.’

Rosenior attempted to play down the noise around Fernandez after the FA Cup win over Port Vale, insisting he’s in a ‘superb place’ with the previous Benfica midfielder.

But Lineker believes it was a mistake for Rosenior to drop Fernandez in the primary place, describing that call as a ‘little bit odd’.

The England legend also defended Fernandez, claiming he understood his comments about Real Madrid and insisting he ‘didn’t say anything particularly bad or detrimental to Chelsea’.

‘I believed that was barely odd [Rosenior dropping Fernandez],’ Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. ‘I don’t think he said anything particularly bad or detrimental to Chelsea.

‘He mainly just said he would really like to live in Madrid. [Marc] Cucurella said something similar [about Barcelona] and didn’t get punished in any respect.

‘Who wouldn’t play for Real Madrid?! I don’t understand the ban. Tremendous him if you would like to punish him and keep it in-house but I don’t see how a ban helps you.

‘It obviously didn’t make any difference against Port Vale but I just thought it was a bit bit odd.’

Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer also questioned Rosenior’s response and said he has created a ‘problem’ for himself going forward.

‘I suppose he’s attempting to make an announcement to the dressing room but there are other ways of going about it,’ Shearer said.

‘The one problem with disciplining them like that is when one other player steps out of line, you need to do something similar when it comes up next, that’s the one problem.’

Micah Richards, meanwhile, defended the way in which Rosenior handled the situation and said he was necessary for him to act.

‘I believe he needed to do it,’ Richards said. ‘With all of the pressure Liam Rosenior has been under recently, the players coming out and speaking like that makes you look weak should you don’t respond.

‘I’d have left him out of the subsequent game which was Port Vale – but I wouldn’t have done two games. That way it looks like he’s punished him but he’s still back for that Man City game.

‘You’re going to wish him against them because he’s one in every of your best players. But I do think Rosenior needed to say something.’

Chelsea were drawn to face rivals Leeds United within the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Manchester City tackle Southampton in the opposite tie at Wembley.

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