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Liam Rosenior has insisted he is in a “very good place” with Enzo Fernández as he looked to move on from the controversy of the Chelsea vice-captain’s comments during the international window.

Fernández appeared to cast doubt on his Chelsea future when he talked glowingly about the former Real Madrid midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić, and mentioned Madrid as the European city in which he would most like to live.

Fernández, who has been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid, had said after Chelsea’s defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 second leg on 17 March that he would see about his Chelsea future after the World Cup in the summer.

Rosenior took the decision to suspend Fernández from Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale, which his team won 7-0, and the Premier League game against Manchester City next Sunday, feeling his latest comments had “crossed the line” and threatened the culture he is working to instil. But the Chelsea manager was pleased that Fernández was present at Stamford Bridge to watch the Vale match and he sought to draw a line under the affair.

“In the right time, in the right moment, which isn’t now, going through what we’ve gone through, I’m sure the discussion will happen in terms of what’s been said between me and Enzo,” Rosenior said. “Enzo and I are in a very good place. I saw him today, had a really good conversation with him today one-to-one and things aren’t what people maybe think they are.

“I said on Friday…the conversations I have with my individual players, with Enzo, with anyone in the squad when it comes to things like this, stay within. The dressing room is sacred. I made it really clear on Friday what I think of him as a person. He’s a top, top guy. But at the same time, I want us now to focus on the football and achieve what we want to achieve through the season.”

Rosenior’s decision to punish Fernández drew an unhappy response from the player’s agent. Javier Pastore said it was “completely unfair” and Fernández had not intended to disrespect Chelsea.

“That’s his opinion,” Rosenior said of Pastore. “I don’t have anything to say on someone else’s opinion. Enzo knows what I think of him and it was brilliant to see him here to support the players. We’ll move forward and make sure we have a really good run-in in the season.”

Rosenior, who reported that the winger Jamie Gittens had suffered another hamstring injury in training on Friday, was delighted with the application and intensity of his players against Vale. “I’ve got a group of players who still believe, as I do, we can have an outstanding season in terms of winning an FA Cup, in terms of qualifying for a Champions League,” he said.