After a few turbulent days caused by Enzo's statements and the sanction handed down by Chelsea, the club finally returned to action this Saturday. So what was Enzo's stance toward the team?
Chelsea cruised to a commanding 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The Blues entered the match with the obligation to win amid a tense atmosphere after losing four straight games. All of this was aggravated by the controversial decision by the club and coach Liam Rosenior to suspend Enzo Fernandez for two games.
Despite this, the Argentine midfielder was present at Stamford Bridge and experienced the match in which Alejandro Garnacho scored from a penalty after coming off the bench.
The Argentine national team midfielder, who is the Blues' second captain, left behind the controversy that sidelined him from the English cup match and from the next match against Manchester City, showing his commitment to Chelsea by watching the match live alongside his teammates.
Hours before the start of the match, Enzo Fernandez posted a story on his Instagram showing himself in the club's gym accompanied by Willie Isa, a former rugby player and current head of player support and development at the institution.
Let us remember that the entire controversy erupted after Enzo Fernandez hinted at his interest in living in Madrid. Chelsea's sanction came, confirmed by Liam Rosenior himself in a press conference.
"I spoke with Enzo an hour ago. As a football club, we made a decision: he will not be available for tomorrow's match or for the one against Manchester City next Sunday. It is disappointing that Enzo spoke like that.
I cannot speak badly of him as a person, but I think he crossed a line in terms of our culture and what we want to build. That is why this is the sanction and the decision we made," said the former coach of Racing Strasbourg.
He continued: "First of all, I have the utmost respect for Enzo as a person and as a player, for what he has achieved in his career, the player he is. He is frustrated because he wants Chelsea to be successful this year. We can still be successful. As for the decision, it is not mine alone nor the executives'. We are all aligned; it was a joint decision."
"The door is not closed for Enzo to return, but this is a sanction. We have to protect the culture of this club, it is a club with a tradition of success, and I think that in that regard a line was crossed during the international break," concluded the English coach.
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