Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez faces an international ban following his red card during Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Colombia overnight. The midfielder was given his marching orders late on after a high-boot caught the opponent on the head plunging his immediate involvement in doubt.
The incident involving Fernandez and River Plate midfielder Kevin Castano left the latter with a sickening gash on his head with the referee brandishing a straight red card. There will be little rest for the 24-year-old with his attention quickly turning to the Club World Cup in America with Chelsea, as part of the newly-structured competition.
But the dismissal isn’t set to carry over into club football, meaning he will likely miss Argentina’s final two World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador in September.
With the current holders of the elite international competition already qualified for next summer’s tournament, the suspension for Fernandez will come at a good time for the Chelsea midfielder.
His summer is likely to be heavily-impacted by the Club World Cup competition, which is due to be completed on July 13 – some 33 days before a ball is kicked in the Premier League once again.
The squad is yet to be named for the upcoming tournament, and should Enzo Maresca’s side enjoy a sustained run in the lucrative competition, there is the potential of seven matches to be played to add further minutes into the legs.
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel believes the upcoming competition is going to hand a disadvantage to the likes of Manchester City and the Blues for the forthcoming Premier League campaign – giving impetus to champions Liverpool and challengers Arsenal.
“I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there,” said the England head coach.
“I think it will be a very nice experience for the players who are there to play this tournament for the first time so there are mixed feelings about it.
“I decided not to worry too much because why should I? It is a given and no one knows what will be the outcome of it or the effect.
“We will deal with the effect when the effect comes and let’s see.
“We have a lot of teams in the Champions League next season and European football and let’s see.”
City boss Pep Guardiola voiced his anger at the competition last October after highlighting the lack of player welfare regarding the compact calendar with the added nature of the Club World Cup at the end of the season.
“What is the strongest players? Which ones?” he asked.
“If you tell me for them which players are stronger than the other ones? I don’t understand.
“go all the squad there, we don’t go for one game. Right? I don’t know the competition itself right now, but we don’t go for 11 players. We go for the whole squad.
“I don’t understand for the selection which player is stronger than the other one. I know. Strong means form?
“Maybe the strongest player for them is in a really bad condition for many reasons.
“Professional, physical, injuries, niggles.
“And I’m going to play other ones. I’m not going to [have them] say before the game which player to play. I will decide.”
