CHELSEA HOLD TALKS OVER LIAM ROSENIOR’S FUTURE AMID POOR FORM — REPORT
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By ‘Ganiyat Sunmola
Liam Rosenior’s position as Chelsea head coach is under serious threat, with the club’s BlueCo owners already considering a shift in direction.
According to Telegraph Sport, Chelsea are prepared to permanently replace Rosenior with a head coach who has proven experience at the highest level if the 41-year-old departs.
However, that may prove challenging, as sources have raised doubts over which elite manager would be willing to take the job under the current conditions.
Following a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring, Rosenior is at risk of losing his role less than six months into the 6½-year contract handed to him by Chelsea.
Discussions over whether he would remain in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United took place at the club’s Cobham training ground on Wednesday, after Tuesday night’s disappointing loss to Brighton.
Co-owner Behdad Eghbali was present at the Amex Stadium to witness the poor display against Brighton and is expected to stay in the country for the FA Cup clash at Wembley.
Dismissing Rosenior now would likely force Chelsea to appoint an interim head coach for the remainder of the season, while delaying a decision until summer would only postpone what appears increasingly inevitable.
Calum McFarlane, who was added to Rosenior’s coaching staff, previously oversaw two matches following Enzo Maresca’s departure, securing a draw against Manchester City and suffering defeat to Fulham.
Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership group now face the possibility of appointing a fifth full-time head coach since taking over the club, with internal discussions already held about a new direction.
Eghbali has also signalled a potential change in transfer strategy this summer, a shift that could extend to the managerial position.
The club’s last two appointments, Rosenior and Maresca, had no prior experience managing in the Premier League or at a major club before joining Chelsea, while Graham Potter had not managed a Champions League match prior to his appointment.
There is now a growing acceptance within the club that the next appointment must bring top-level experience, with the search for Rosenior’s successor likely to focus on candidates who have demonstrated the ability to handle the pressures of both a major club and the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid manager, is currently without a job, while Andoni Iraola has confirmed he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season after impressing in the Premier League. Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is also enjoying success with Como in Serie A.
Despite these options, sources believe Chelsea’s collaborative structure, coupled with the increasing risk of missing out on Champions League qualification, could complicate the search.
“Which top manager is going to want the Chelsea job under the current circumstances?” one source said. “It’s not going to be easy.”
Chelsea had initially intended to retain Rosenior even if the club failed to secure Champions League football, but a late-season collapse has forced a reassessment.
Beyond the poor run of results, Rosenior further weakened his position by publicly criticising his players.
Although some of his concerns were considered valid, airing them publicly was seen as a misstep, with one dressing-room source remarking: “That was not a good move.”
After the defeat to Brighton, Rosenior said, “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. Unacceptable in attitude. I keep coming out and defending the players, but that’s indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels we lost, the lack of intensity in the team.”
His remarks drew comparisons to previous Chelsea managers José Mourinho and Frank Lampard, who also publicly criticised their players before eventually losing their jobs. Mourinho claimed he felt “betrayed” after a defeat to Leicester City in 2015, while Lampard questioned his team’s commitment following a loss to Leicester in 2021.
A source told Telegraph Sport, “Attacking the players in public never ends well, however valid some of the points might be. It’s very difficult to come back from.”
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