Liam Rosenior is SACKED by Chelsea: Blues dismiss boss after fifth defeat in a row – bringing manager’s dismal spell to an end after less than FOUR months in charge
Liam Rosenior has been sacked after less than four months as Chelsea manager following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
Rosenior was appointed by Chelsea on January 6 following the shock departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Eve.
The 41-year-old joined the Blues from sister club Strasbourg and signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the option to extend for a further year.
Despite a long-term deal, Chelsea sacked the coach after 23 games, with Calum McFarlane in temporary charge until the end of the season.
In the statement made by the club, it was said: “Chelsea Football Club parted ways with Head Coach Liam Rosenior today.”
‘On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to put on record our gratitude to Liam and his team for their efforts throughout their time at the Club.
Chelsea have sacked manager Liam Rosenior after less than four months.
Rosenior’s sacking follows Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday
‘Liam has always acted with the highest integrity and professionalism following his mid-season appointment.
‘This is not a decision the Club has taken lightly, but recent results and performances have fallen below the required standards and there is still a lot to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.
‘Calum McFarlane will take responsibility for the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season, with the support of existing Club background staff as we look to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.
‘As the club looks to stabilize the Head Coach position, we will commence a self-assessment process to make the right long-term appointment.’
The Blues hierarchy took action after five consecutive defeats in the Premier League, with Rosenior’s side failing to score in any of those defeats.
Chelsea’s poor run of form has left their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging by a thread.
The Blues slipped to seventh in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Brighton overtaking them after Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck scored to beat the Seagulls 3-0 at the Amex.
As a result, Chelsea remain seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who sit last in the Champions League and have a game in hand.
Rosenior was sacked after five consecutive league defeats without scoring.
Calum McFarlane will take charge of Chelsea until the end of the season, the club has confirmed.
Chelsea next face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.
Rosenior, who won 11, drew two and lost 10 of the 23 matches he was in charge of, expressed his confidence that the Chelsea board supported him before the Brighton match.
“100 percent,” Rosenior said Monday. ‘They supported me in our daily conversations and the sporting directors have been fantastic in their support of me and the team.
‘We are of the same mind now that we know we have to win football games. This doesn’t go against what we’re trying to do, which is to give this club consistent long-term success.’
Rosenior’s departure comes just days after Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali stressed that the club was trying to achieve “stability on the managerial side”.
‘Our policy was that there would be no (coach) changes during the season,’ Eghbali said in Los Angeles last week. ‘You certainly review and hold accountable not just the manager, but the management team, the sports team, but usually in the summer and not in season.
‘This is not a change we want to make (Enzo Maresca is leaving). This is a change that has a slightly negative impact on the season as we change systems and personnel and it is a change that we will have to fight our way out of.
‘We’ve still got six games left in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-final coming up. I hope this season’s story hasn’t been written yet and you have a lot to fight for. From my perspective, when you get punched in the face you have to fight back, you have to get up and fight. And hopefully it will show a lot about the character of this team.
‘I think the point of view is one of stability and frankly getting that stability on the managerial side is one of the things we haven’t done right yet and it’s something we’re trying to improve.’
