Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has emphatically dismissed recent transfer speculation surrounding star midfielder Enzo Fernández, reaffirming the World Cup-winner's crucial role in his plans. Fernández, who joined Stamford Bridge from Benfica in February 2023 for a then-British record fee, has firmly established himself as a pivotal figure for the Blues, despite a slow initial start to his career in west London. His acquisition was a cornerstone of the recruitment strategy of owners BlueCo, who acted swiftly following his breakout performance in Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar.

Addressing the rumors linking the 25-year-old with clubs like Real Madrid, Rosenior stated, "It means nothing to me. When you're a world-class player there's always going to be speculation that you can't control." He emphasized Fernández's status, declaring, "He's a Chelsea player. He's very important to me. I think we're going to have a really good, hopefully winning relationship in the short term and the long term." The manager further praised Fernández's commitment, noting his "outstanding" performance on Saturday despite battling illness.

A key discussion point surrounding Fernández revolves around his most effective position on the pitch. He has most frequently been deployed in a deeper-lying midfield role alongside Moisés Caicedo. However, this pairing has sometimes led to Chelsea appearing lightweight, with a significant defensive burden falling on the more physically combative Caicedo. Former coach Enzo Maresca experimented with Fernández in a more advanced No. 10 role when Cole Palmer was injured, a position that many argued allowed him to better utilize his exceptional passing range and knack for arriving in goalscoring positions.

Rosenior himself demonstrated tactical flexibility during Chelsea's recent 2-0 victory over Brentford. He initially started Fernández in his customary deeper midfield role before shifting him forward in the second half following the introduction of Andrey Santos. Santos, with whom Rosenior previously worked at Strasbourg, is considered the obvious alternative to partner Caicedo in the deeper midfield. However, deploying Fernández as a No. 10 creates a tactical dilemma regarding Cole Palmer, who has recently been out of form and was moved to the right wing against Brentford.

Despite the positional debate, Fernández remains central to Rosenior's vision. The coach lauded his "extreme skill set," highlighting his technical excellence, impressive ground coverage, and athleticism. "He can finish, he can score, he arrives really well in the box when he plays higher up like a forward-running eight or a No. 10," Rosenior remarked. He stressed the importance of finding the right "chemistry" around the position rather than "pigeon-holing" players, referencing Fernández's strong performances both as a deeper 'six' against Arsenal and as a '10' against Charlton.

In terms of squad fitness, Rosenior confirmed that a sickness bug continues to affect parts of his squad, with Enzo Fernández missing training on Monday due to illness, making him a doubt for the upcoming Champions League fixture at home to Pafos. Despite this setback, the Chelsea boss delivered positive updates on other key players, announcing the returns of Estevao, Jamie Gittens, and Malo Gusto. Looking ahead to the Champions League, Chelsea currently sit two points outside the automatic qualification places for the last-16, with two matches remaining in their group campaign, having recorded three wins, one draw, and two defeats.

Regarding other player matters, Rosenior indicated that the future of Raheem Sterling, who has not featured for the team in the last 18 months, could be resolved in January. He stated, "We're in conversations about different things and different options. Hopefully that will be clearer in the next few days." Liam Rosenior also offered public backing to striker Liam Delap.