Chelsea Stars Enjoy Downtime in Madrid
Chelsea players Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, and Joao Pedro were seen relaxing in Madrid on Monday, just a day after helping the club secure a spot in the FA Cup final. The trio played crucial roles in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Leeds at Wembley, with Fernandez scoring the decisive goal in the first half.
Cucurella was accompanied by his partner Claudia Rodriguez, with whom he shares three children, while Pedro was joined by his girlfriend Khadije Skandar. The group had traveled to Spain to watch the Madrid Open, following a period of rest granted by interim manager Calum McFarlane after the cup win. This break came shortly after Liam Rosenior was dismissed from his position.
Photos from the Spanish capital showed the players leaving a high-end restaurant before strolling through the city on a pleasant April day. However, Fernandez’s presence in Madrid was ironic, given his recent comments that appeared to challenge Real Madrid.
Controversial Comments About Madrid
During an appearance on the Avirales YouTube channel, Fernandez expressed a desire to live in Madrid one day, raising questions about his future at Chelsea. He said, “I’d like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid; it reminds me of Buenos Aires. Players live where they want. I’d live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I’d be more comfortable in Spanish.”
He also praised Real Madrid legends Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. These remarks followed several interviews where Fernandez questioned his future at Stamford Bridge. He admitted he wasn’t sure if he would still be with Chelsea beyond this summer and criticized the club for losing former manager Enzo Maresca.
Fernandez was subsequently banned for two games due to these comments, which Chelsea felt crossed the line. He was forced to apologize to Rosenior. The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a then-record £106.8 million in 2023, participated in internal peace talks, but his agent, Javier Pastore, criticized the ban.
Agent Defends Fernandez
Pastore stated, “The punishment is completely unfair—banning the player for two matches, which are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team’s most important players. I think it’s far too harsh given Chelsea’s current situation, and there’s no real reason or justification for why he has been banned.”
He also claimed the interview was exaggerated, adding, “We don’t understand the punishment because he doesn’t mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it; he only mentions Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he’d like to live in one day.”
Manager Responds to the Situation
Rosenior commented on the incident, saying, “It’s a serious meeting about something very serious. I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, I’m not questioning who he is as a person. I believe people make mistakes and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake. We’ve made a sanction, we made a decision, I made a decision, and what I want for Enzo is for him to come on here and have an outstanding career.”
“He won’t play on Sunday, but hopefully after that, he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward. There are still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused now on a huge run.”
Return to Action
After missing Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Port Vale and their defeat by Manchester City, Fernandez has started the last three games for the club. His trip to Madrid comes after he also attended last year’s tournament with teammates Pedro Neto and Cucurella.
The Blues are set to return to action on Monday when they host Nottingham Forest.
