CHELSEA star Wesley Fofana has apologised for storming down the tunnel after being substituted during the damaging defeat by Manchester United.
A video shared widely online showed Fofana shrugging off first-team coach Justin Walker as the member of boss Liam Rosenior’s backroom staff tried to console him when he was replaced late in Saturday’s game.
Rosenior said: “Wes is a very emotional character in a good way. I love him.
“As a guy, he’s not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
“I’ve spoken to him about it and he’s just disappointed that we’re losing the game.
“I do think he could show emotion in a better way’ and that’s something that I’ve spoken about but the optics on that is not the reality.
ER-LINGO
Haaland refuses to apologise in interview as Sky Sports reporter intervenes
SPOTLIGHT
Crystal Palace vs West Ham: Betting tips, odds and free bets (Premier League)
“The reality is I’ve got a really good group. They’re working really, really hard for me and for the staff and for the club.
“At the moment, the results aren’t going that way and then people start reading more into it than what it actually is.
“Wes apologised for his reaction but these are young players who are going to make mistakes in the moment.”
Fofana is the latest Chelsea player to step out of line in recent weeks.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Vice-captain Enzo Fernandez served a two-match internal suspension after talking out of turn on several occasions.
And Rosenior had to speak to Marc Cucurella after the Spanish left-back supported Fernandez’s criticism of the departure of former boss Enzo Maresca and questioned the club’s recruitment policy.
Cucurella also recently admitted that a transfer to Barcelona would be “hard to turn down,” with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo making similar admissions about Real Madrid earlier this month.
Fernandez returned to the team for United game but did not wear the captain’s armband in the absence of Reece James as he had usually done, with Moises Caicedo taking the role of skipper.
But Rosenior said a video appearing to show Fernandez snubbing him had been edited to look bad.
The Blues boss said: “I’ve got sent two videos.
“One of Enzo walking past me and then it was cut before he turned around and hugged me and shook my hand.
“I know how these things work.”
Rosenior confirmed Fofana will be available for selection for tomorrow’s [TUES] crucial game at Brighton and Fernandez had recovered from a knock picked up against United.
Striker Joao Pedro faces a late fitness test after missing the United game, while teenage winger Estevao is definitely out having come off injured early in Saturday’s match.