Liam Rosenior: New Chelsea boss wants young team to emulate Man Utd’s Class of ’92
Rosenior watched from the stands as Chelsea lost 2-1 to Fulham on Wednesday, leaving the Blues eighth in the table with just one win in nine Premier League games.
During the match, slogans against the ownership were chanted and a banner reading ‘BlueCo is over’ was unfurled. Hours after Rosenior’s appointment the day before, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust published a critical survey targeting the club’s leadership rather than the new manager.
More than half of respondents said they doubted Chelsea could achieve success over the next three to five years under the current regime, while a similar proportion said they lacked confidence in the team’s decision-making.
Chelsea’s model, built around young players on long contracts and overseen by five sporting directors (Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Sam Jewell, Dave Fallows and Joe Shields) and influential owner Behdad Eghbali, has come under scrutiny.
Maresca’s desire to leave mid-season resulted in a management change that the club did not plan until the end of season review.
However, Rosenior believes in the club’s approach, having worked under the same structure at Strasbourg.
“I have a very good professional relationship with the guys,” he said. “I understand what they want, where they want to go, and how they want to get there. That helps me deliver what they want. That’s why I’m here. I believe we can be successful. It’s not just about me, and we’ll see if that’s true over time.”
“The project is about winning. It’s about winning games and delivering trophies to Chelsea.”
Asked whether he would have a say in transfers, Rosenior added: “I couldn’t bring a player I didn’t want to Strasbourg. These guys have been great for me. The process is as it should be in every club.”
The former Fulham full-back, who was born in west London, wants to create a positive environment despite recent friction.
“As a head coach you talk about the system and the tactics; that’s 10% of the job,” he said. “The job is to create spirit, energy and culture.”
Rosenior, who managed Derby County and Hull City before joining Strasbourg in July 2024, remains inexperienced and is yet to win a major trophy.
Chelsea’s previous managers – Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte – all came with multiple accolades.
Asked if it was an underwhelming appointment compared to these big names, Rosenior replied: “Everyone starts somewhere. There’s a great quote from Mourinho, one of my heroes.”
“He said it takes 20 years to become an overnight success. It’s the same for everyone. You’re not a name until you become a name.”
His message to his fans was clear, adding: “Judge what you see, not what you hear. Judge what you see on the pitch. Don’t judge my press conferences; I’m not winning any games here. Give me, my team and my players the chance to prove that we are valuable. Judge us and be fair.”
“If the performances are not good enough, I will be the first to say so. I am the person most responsible for our performances – but give us a chance.”
