After what feels like a very long international break, Chelsea will return to action tomorrow as they host League One strugglers Port Vale in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. 

With all due respect to the visitors, this is a brilliant opportunity for the Blues to book another trip to Wembley and to get within two games of silverware in what has been a tough season for everyone at the club. 

However, should Chelsea beat Port Vale, they will have to do so without one of their first team players. 

Indeed, as Liam Rosenior has confirmed that midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been sanctioned by the club for recent comments about his future, by making him unavailable for tomorrow's game and the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League next week. 

Speaking earlier today, Rosenior said: "I spoke with Enzo [Fernandez]. As part of the football club, he won't be available for tomorrow or Manchester City. It's disappointing [for him] to speak in that way. As a character and person, I have no bad words. But a line was crossed. We had to make a sanction." 

Some strong but balanced comments from the manager. This will have been about the player's cryptic comments on his future after the second leg defeat to PSG, which was followed by the 24-year old saying that Madrid is the city he would love to live in the most. 

Now, there was a couple of weeks between the comments. So, perhaps the interview from Fernandez after the PSG game was met with a warning, but then after the following comments re Madrid, Rosenior then decided enough was enough. 

In any case, the comments were suboptimal. But particularly as one of the club's longest serving players, and the vice captain who has been leading the team out in the absence of Reece James in the past couple of weeks. Just a really poor look all round. 

So, it is good from Rosenior to take action. The gaffer made it clear that it was nothing personal, and made sure not to attack him. But he also made it clear that the club cannot stand for that behaviour. If in this case, Fernandez was not punished - then what message does that send out to any other players? 

If Chelsea cannot beat Port Vale without Fernandez, they do not deserve to win the FA Cup. Manchester City is a completely different task, particularly as the Argentine scored the late equaliser in the reverse fixture back at the start of the year, but needs must. 

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