Liam Rosenior confirmed Enzo Fernandez will not feature in Chelsea's next two games after the midfielder's recent comments about his future at the club.

During the international break, Fernandez told ESPN that he did not know whether he would remain at Chelsea next season, while he also hinted at a possible move to Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Blues for £105m in January 2023, will subsequently miss their FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and Premier League clash against Manchester City.

Chelsea and Port Vale last met in any competition in April 1929 in a league encounter, won 1-0 by the Valiants.

All 14 meetings between the teams were in the second tier between 1905-06 and 1928-29 (seven Chelsea wins, four draws, three Port Vale wins).

Chelsea have progressed from 64 of their last 66 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, failing only against Barnsley in 2007-08 and Bradford City in 2014-15.

In domestic cup competitions since 2015-16, the Blues have had 37 ties against lower league teams and progressed from all 37.

Although Fernandez will miss Chelsea's next two games, Rosenior insisted the Argentina international still has a future at the club.

"It's disappointing for Enzo to speak that way," Rosenior said.

"I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build. As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He's frustrated because he wants us to be successful.

"In terms of the decision, it's not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision.

"The door is not closed on Enzo. It's a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed."

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella also said that he would be open to a return to Barcelona in the future, clarifying he was "happy" in London for the time being.

The left-back was not sanctioned by Chelsea.

"The players were motivated that we could do something really special in the Champions League," Rosenior said.

"The comments from Enzo and Marc Cucurella's interview both stem from that. It actually stems from a good place where they want the club to succeed.

"But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group of players."