Chelsea interim head coach Liam Rosenior omitted Enzo Fernandez from the squad after comments the manager said ‘crossed a line.’ The midfielder had initially told reporters there were ‘no talks’ with Real Madrid and that he was focused on Chelsea, adding he would ‘see after the World Cup.’ In a later interview Fernandez said he would ‘like to live in Spain’ and that Madrid reminded him of Buenos Aires, remarks Rosenior described as ‘not ideal.’ Rosenior said much of the fallout must be seen against a backdrop of a difficult 10 days for the club, probably the toughest spell in his career as a player or manager. Between 11 and 21 March Chelsea lost four consecutive matches, a run that included an 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last-16 tie. Team-mate Marc Cucurella also prompted debate by suggesting his future could lie elsewhere and hinting at a return to Barcelona before later clarifying he is ‘happy’ at Chelsea and would prefer to wait a ‘few years’ before moving on. Rosenior said those comments came from the players’ hunger to achieve something special in Europe but stressed the squad needs greater emotional stability at volatile moments. He added he held a 30-minute conversation with Cucurella on Thursday and believes the Spain international is fully committed. Since taking charge in January, Rosenior’s side have won 10 of 19 matches, lost seven and drawn two, and sit sixth in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot.
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