Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso spoke compellingly about Enzo Fernandez during his pre-match press conference ahead of the EFL Cup tie against Luton Town.
During his meeting with the media, the Spanish manager made it clear how highly he rates the Argentine World Cup winner, confirming that “he will be involved” against Luton. His admiration for Fernandez’s qualities was also obvious, particularly given that the midfielder occupies a position Alonso knows all too well from his playing days.
However, the issue now lies in Fernandez’s absence from the matchday squad. Whether that decision was forced from above or influenced by the player’s representatives, it raises questions over Chelsea’s handling of the situation.
After publicly stating that Fernandez would be involved, a change 24-hours later creates the impression of a disconnect between the manager and the club or the player, and highlights a potential weakness in player management at this early stage of the season.
The move could indicate that Fernandez is already on his way out and may no longer want to be part of Chelsea’s plans going forward. If that proves to be the case, some supporters may feel it is simply a case of good riddance, and perhaps question whether he should have been backed in the first place.
However, the reality is that we do not know what has been happening behind the scenes. The player’s behaviour, conversations with the club and representatives’ involvement remain unclear to supporters. With that in mind, perhaps Alonso wasn’t wrong after all, and there could be more to his decision than initially meets the eye.
Could it be a masterstroke?
On the other hand, Fernandez’s omission could actually be viewed as a strong piece of player management from Xabi Alonso. With speculation surrounding a potential move to Manchester City continuing to dominate the headlines, removing the Argentine from the spotlight could give both the player and the club some breathing room and put the club first .
Rather than allowing the transfer saga to become the story of the evening, Alonso may have decided that keeping Fernandez away from the media circus was the best course of action.
There is also the possibility that the manager simply played the press, deliberately suggesting Fernandez would feature before taking him out of the squad. If that was the plan, Alonso has certainly kept his cards close to his chest and avoided giving City any further insight into Chelsea’s thinking.
We won't know the real answer until after September 1 when the window is shut.
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