{"id":314687,"date":"2026-04-07T08:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=314687"},"modified":"2026-04-07T08:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T03:19:09","slug":"gary-lineker-defends-chelsea-star-after-odd-liam-rosenior-decision-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/07\/gary-lineker-defends-chelsea-star-after-odd-liam-rosenior-decision-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Gary Lineker defends Chelsea star after ‘odd’ Liam Rosenior decision | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ex-England striker Gary Lineker (Picture: YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Fernandez, who has frequently captained the Blues, first solid doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea\u2019s Champions League defeat to PSG.<\/p>\n

Asked if he could guarantee that he will likely be a Chelsea player next season, Fernandez told ESPN: \u2018I don\u2019t know, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There\u2019s the World Cup after which we\u2019ll see.\u2019<\/p>\n

Fernandez made an identical comment when directly asked about speculation linking him with Real Madrid later within the month.<\/p>\n

In one other not-so-subtle transfer hint, the Argentine World Cup winner recently said he would \u2018like\u2019 to live in Madrid sooner or later.<\/p>\n

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior said Fernandez had \u2018crossed a line\u2019 along with his comments and opted to drop the midfielder for 2 games.<\/p>\n

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Enzo Fernandez has hinted he wants to go away Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019s Premier League clash against Manchester City.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s disappointing for Enzo to talk that way,\u2019 said Rosenior, who took over from Enzo Maresca at Chelsea in January.<\/p>\n

\u2018I 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018As a personality, an individual and a player, I actually have the utmost respect. He\u2019s frustrated because he wants us to achieve success.<\/p>\n

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Liam Rosenior said Fernandez \u2018crossed a line\u2019 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018When it comes to the choice, it\u2019s not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we’re aligned in our decision.<\/p>\n

\u2018The door just isn’t closed on Enzo. It\u2019s a sanction. You have got to guard the culture, and when it comes to that, a line was crossed.\u2019<\/p>\n

Rosenior attempted to play down the noise around Fernandez after the FA Cup win over Port Vale, insisting he’s in a \u2018superb place\u2019 with the previous Benfica midfielder.<\/p>\n

But Lineker believes it was a mistake for Rosenior to drop Fernandez in the primary place, describing that call as a \u2018little bit odd\u2019.<\/p>\n

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The England legend also defended Fernandez, claiming he understood his comments about Real Madrid and insisting he \u2018didn\u2019t say anything\u00a0particularly\u00a0bad or detrimental to Chelsea\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018I believed that was barely odd [Rosenior dropping Fernandez],\u2019 Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast<\/a>. \u2018I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0think he said anything\u00a0particularly\u00a0bad or detrimental to Chelsea.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u00a0mainly\u00a0just\u00a0said he would really like to live in Madrid.\u00a0[Marc] Cucurella\u00a0said something similar [about Barcelona] and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0get punished in any respect.<\/p>\n

\u2018Who\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0play for Real Madrid?! I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand the ban. Tremendous\u00a0him if you would like to punish him and keep it in-house but I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0see how a ban helps you.<\/p>\n

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Premier League legend Alan Shearer (Picture: YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It obviously\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0make any difference against Port\u00a0Vale\u00a0but I just thought it was a bit bit odd.\u2019<\/p>\n

Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer also questioned Rosenior\u2019s response and said he has created a \u2018problem\u2019 for himself going forward.<\/p>\n

\u2018I suppose\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0attempting to make an announcement to the dressing room but there are\u00a0other ways\u00a0of going about it,\u2019 Shearer said.<\/p>\n

\u2018The one problem with disciplining them like that is when one other player steps out of line, you\u00a0need to\u00a0do something similar when it comes up next,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0the one problem.\u2019<\/p>\n

Micah Richards, meanwhile, defended the way in which Rosenior handled the situation and said he was necessary for him to act.<\/p>\n

\u2018I believe he\u00a0needed to do it,\u2019 Richards said. \u2018With 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\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n

\u2018I’d have left him out of the subsequent game which was Port Vale \u2013 but I\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have done two games.\u00a0That way it looks like\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0punished him but\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0still back for that Man City game.<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re\u00a0going to wish him against them because\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0one in every of your best players. But I do think Rosenior needed to say something.\u2019<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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