Xabi Alonso Explains Enzo Fernandez's Omission from Chelsea Squad
Xabi Alonso insisted Enzo Fernandez’s omission from Chelsea’s squad at Luton was a calculated football decision – and one taken in lockstep with the club – as speculation over a move to Manchester City swirls around the midfielder.
Fernandez, who came off the bench in Monday’s Premier League opener against Fulham, did not even travel as a substitute for the 2-0 win over Jack Wilshere’s League One side. Chelsea got the job done without him: a debut goal from Danny Welbeck settled the nerves, and a late own goal forced by Estevao killed the tie.
All of it played out against a noisy backdrop. City are understood to be lining up a bid to sign Fernandez before the window shuts, with the aim of reuniting him with former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium. With the deadline looming at 11pm BST on Tuesday night (September 1), the 25-year-old’s absence felt like the clearest sign yet that a transfer could be edging closer.
Alonso pushed back on that narrative.
“We assess individually, collectively, what's the best for the team, for tonight, what was better for other players that were playing and we take the decision,” the Chelsea head coach said when pressed on leaving Fernandez out entirely.
Reports in Argentina had claimed Fernandez himself asked not to play at Kenilworth Road. Alonso was unequivocal.
“No, it was a decision from myself and from the club,” he replied.
The questions kept coming. Was the call linked to active talks between City and Chelsea?
“No, it's just because of the game today and we had other players that needed minutes and it was that way,” Alonso said, framing it as a rotation move rather than a market signal.
The timing of the decision added another twist. On the eve of the game, Alonso had publicly suggested Fernandez would feature in some capacity. By Wednesday afternoon, that had changed.
“It's a decision that I took,” he explained, without confirming whether he had spoken directly with the player after the U-turn.
What he did make clear was his view of Fernandez’s attitude amid the uncertainty.
“He's a good professional. He's training well and I have nothing to say about him,” Alonso said. “It was just a decision that we had to take, thinking about the game that we're playing tonight and we'll see for Sunday [against Brighton].”
For now, Chelsea have points on the board, City are circling, and Fernandez sits at the centre of one of the window’s most intriguing late stories. Sunday will reveal whether this was just a one-off tactical call – or the prelude to a departure.
