Gary Lineker and Micah Richards clash over ruthless Chelsea decision - 'slightly odd'

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Gary Lineker and Micah Richards disagreed on Liam Rosenior 's handling of Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez with the former claiming it was "slightly odd" for him to drop the Argentine.

Rosenior announced that Fernandez would be dropped for the Blues' FA Cup clash against Port Vale, which they won 7-0 to march into the semi-finals, after he made comments that hinted at a desire to move to Real Madrid .

The World Cup winner, who was been at Stamford Bridge since 2023, said that Los Blancos were a club he would like to play for whilst he also talked up living in Madrid. Whilst on international duty Fernandez was quizzed on his Chelsea future and told ESPN : "I don’t know, I don’t know. There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see."

Rosenior responded by confirming that Fernandez would sit out Chelsea's next two games. Despite backing him, he confessed that "a line was crossed" - but Lineker didn't agree with his punishment.

He said on The Rest is Football podcast : "I thought that was slightly odd (Rosenior dropping Fernandez). I don’t think he said anything particularly bad or detrimental to Chelsea.

"He basically just said he would like to live in Madrid. [Marc] Cucurella said something similar [about Barcelona ] and didn’t get punished at all. Who wouldn’t play for Real Madrid?! I don’t understand the ban. Fine him if you want to punish him and keep it in-house but I don’t see how a ban helps you."

Fernandez was in the stands for Chelsea's dominant win on Saturday as Andrey Santos and Romeo Lavia partnered up in midfield. Richards has backed Rosenior's reaction, saying he would have looked "weak" if he didn't take a stand as one of his key players went public about his future plans.

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"I think he had to do it," he said. "With all the pressure Liam Rosenior has been under recently, the players coming out and speaking like that makes you look weak if you don’t respond.

"I would have left him out of the next game which was Port Vale – but I wouldn’t have done two games. That way it looks like he’s punished him but he’s still back for that Man City game. You’re going to need him against them because he’s one of your best players. But I do think Rosenior had to say something."