LONDON — Enzo Fernández has raised questions about his future with Chelsea just minutes after their disheartening exit from the Champions League on Tuesday, losing 3-0 to Paris Saint-Germain.
Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Senny Mayulu led to Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, culminating in an aggregate loss of 8-2—one of the worst European defeats in the club’s history.
As Chelsea’s vice-captain, Fernández stepped in for the injured Reece James and led the team against PSG.
At 25, the midfielder, who transferred from Benfica for £106 million ($141 million) in February 2023, is contracted until 2032. However, when asked if he could assure fans of his presence at Chelsea next season, he told ESPN Argentina: “I don’t know. My focus is on staying here for now. We have eight Premier League matches and the FA Cup ahead, in addition to the upcoming World Cup, so we will see what happens after that.”
In reaction, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior stated, “Firstly, I haven’t seen those comments. It’s difficult for me to comment on speculation right after a match. My priority is on our next game against Everton on Saturday.”
Fernández’s remarks added to an already disappointing night for Chelsea, who faced boos from the crowd both at halftime and full-time.
“I believe we struggled to control the game. In the first leg, we lost focus in the last 15 minutes and conceded three goals, and it happened again at the start tonight,” Fernández analyzed the team’s performance. “At this level, conceding two quick goals due to small mistakes is costly. Overall, PSG were the better team over the two legs and deserved to advance.”
“Since my arrival at Chelsea, we’ve encountered similar situations and managed to turn them around. Now, our focus must shift to winning the FA Cup and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.”
Rosenior also faced criticism from some supporters when he substituted Fernández, Cole Palmer, and João Pedro shortly after the hour mark with the score at 2-0.
Regarding the atmosphere in the stadium, Rosenior commented: “It’s a two-way street. This is an incredible football club, and the fans rightfully desire immediate success because of its stature. I understand their frustration given the aggregate score, and they want us to win. I completely get it. My aim is to bring them joy and the memorable nights they deserve, as a collective effort.”
“This was a very tough loss to accept, particularly considering how we exited the competition tonight.”
In addition to their Champions League elimination, Chelsea currently sits outside the Premier League top five, although they are just one point behind Liverpool in fifth and two points behind Aston Villa in fourth.
“We need to learn how to be ruthless at this highest level and ensure we don’t leak goals,” Rosenior added. “We failed on both counts across these two legs, which is why we’re out of the tournament.”
ESPN’s Moises Llorens contributed to this report.