According to sources, Chelsea is nearing the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, following his arrival in London on Sunday.
Rosenior oversaw Strasbourg’s 0-0 draw against Nice on Saturday and mentioned after the match that he had not yet discussed the potential move with Chelsea. However, discussions are expected to pick up speed, as Rosenior is the club’s top choice.
The fact that both Chelsea and Strasbourg are under the same ownership group—BlueCo, which completed its acquisition of Chelsea in 2022—should make the transition smoother. Rosenior traveled to London alongside Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir.
While a deal has not yet been finalized, there is a growing sense that things could progress rapidly, with a formal announcement anticipated in the next few days, potentially ahead of Wednesday’s match against Fulham.
On Thursday, Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca, prompting under-21 manager Calum McFarlane to step in for his first senior match against Manchester City.
The match at the Etihad Stadium concluded in a 1-1 draw, with Enzo Fernández scoring a last-minute equalizer to level the score after Tijjani Reijnders put City ahead in the first half.
After the game, McFarlane shared his plans for the upcoming days.
“We’re training tomorrow,” he stated. “Unless I hear otherwise this evening, I’ll be leading that session. My primary focus has been on this match, and until I’m informed of any changes, I’ll continue to lead the team.”
“When I first took on the role, I was briefed that I would manage the Manchester City game, which gave me three days with the team. I had been told initially that the new manager might join us on Monday.”
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“Given it’s Sunday now, our focus has been entirely on the game, so I’ll likely learn more once I conclude this press conference, but as of now, I’ll lead the team until the new manager arrives.”
McFarlane also praised the players’ resilience during the recent turbulence, which included the absence of defender Wesley Fofana due to illness and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez facing a muscular issue.
“The most impressive part has been the players,” he noted. “Being one goal down at the Etihad, dealing with an interim manager, and facing illnesses affecting our players just before the game, they managed to regroup and execute the game plan, which speaks volumes about their character.”
“In those situations, young players might falter, but I thought they were outstanding.”
Sources indicate that former Bournemouth and Wolves manager Gary O’Neill is among the three candidates being considered to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg.