CHELSEA FACE ENZO FERNáNDEZ WORRY AHEAD WEEKEND TRIP TO FOREST
Chelsea face a fitness worry as Enzo Fernández's Argentina friendly was rescheduled, giving him a short turnaround before the Nottingham Forest match. The Blues have several injury concerns.
After the international break, the Blues are already worried about several important players for the match at the City Ground.
Due to the rescheduling of Argentina's friendly match versus Puerto Rico, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández will have a short turnaround for their trip to Nottingham Forest next week.
Argentina's Monday night match against Puerto Rico in Chicago was postponed to Florida and will now take place one day later.
Luca Serra, a spokesperson for the Chicago Park District, told The Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday that the game's preparations had changed, but no formal announcement has been made as of yet.
He acknowledged that the Argentina vs. Puerto Rico game had been cancelled in Chicago. "Low ticket sales led the promoter to make the decision this morning."
The move was prompted by disturbances in Chicago, where President Donald Trump has used the National Guard to put down protests over the immigration crackdown, an Argentine Football Association (AFA) executive told AP.
The friendly, which was initially scheduled for Monday at Soldier Field, will instead take place on Tuesday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the home field of Argentina captain Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, according to news agency Reuters.
Fernandez will have a shorter turnaround heading into next week's Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, which kicks off at 12:30 pm BST on Saturday, October 18, which is a blow for Chelsea.
Argentina's rescheduled friendly was initially slated to begin at 7 p.m. local time in Chicago, but the exact time has not yet been revealed.
Fernandez would not conclude the game against Puerto Rico until Wednesday morning at roughly 1 am BST if it stayed at that time.
After that, the midfield player would have to fly back across the Atlantic before preparing for Saturday's game at the City Ground before lunch.
In addition to Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Andrey Santos, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong were both substituted out of the team's thrilling victory over Liverpool before the international break, for which Trevoh Chalobah received a suspension.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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