LONDON — Liam Rosenior may want to confirm that the ink is dry on his six-year deal as head coach of Chelsea, as he steps into a brewing storm at Stamford Bridge that seems far from over.
Rosenior has taken over a fragmented squad lacking a dependable goalkeeper and full-back. While the team is filled with youthful talent, the prevailing concern for him is the off-pitch turmoil and the growing frustration among fans directed at co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
As Chelsea fell to a 2-1 defeat against West London rivals Fulham, fans erupted with chants aimed at the owners, expressing their anger and calling for their resignation.
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Supporters even chanted the name of former owner Roman Abramovich, who was forced to relinquish control in May 2022 due to UK government sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At Chelsea, discontent reigns, and although Rosenior is not to blame, his presence may inadvertently exacerbate the negative sentiment.
The new team leader, who left Chelsea’s affiliated club Strasbourg to take over for the dismissed Enzo Maresca, spent the entire 90 minutes watching the defeat at Craven Cottage from the stands, rather than guiding his players from the sideline.
Despite signing his contract on Tuesday, Rosenior felt he needed more time to connect with the team, and instead observed alongside co-owner Eghbali, leaving interim coach Calum McFarlane in charge on the pitch.
This marks one of Rosenior’s early mistakes; the first might have been accepting the Chelsea position at all.
It’s understandable; no ambitious young coach would refuse the chance to helm a prestigious club like Chelsea. Yet, the conditions surrounding his appointment have intensified fan unrest.
Maresca was never a fan favorite and was often viewed as having been promoted too quickly after just one season in the Championship with Leicester City. However, he earned some respect from supporters after leading Chelsea to victory in the UEFA Conference League, FIFA Club World Cup, and securing UEFA Champions League qualification last season.
His public frustration prior to his firing resonated with many fans, and the swift transition to Rosenior—rather than an elite figure reminiscent of Chelsea’s Abramovich era—has only worsened the situation.
Notably, while fans vocalized their discontent with the owners, there were no chants in support of Rosenior. He was met with indifference, which is quite unusual for any new manager.
If he had been actively leading from the sidelines, issuing commands and managing the game—if Chelsea even allows such management—he might have garnered support from the fans. However, that opportunity will have to wait until his first official match at the helm on Saturday in the FA Cup third round clash against Charlton Athletic.
Rosenior faces a substantial task ahead, as he needs to instill direction and discipline within a squad rich in talent but lacking coherence. The recent sending off of Marc Cucurella for a foul on Harry Wilson in the first half marked the team’s seventh red card across all competitions this season, double that of any other Premier League club.
With an overabundance of players who are not performing, Chelsea is currently trapped in a battle for Champions League qualification, having dropped to seventh place after their loss, during which goals from Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez and Wilson, flanked either side of an equalizer from Liam Delap.
After a day off following his appointment, Rosenior will commence serious work tomorrow as he prepares for the challenge against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. A loss against this struggling Championship side in a London derby would mark a dismal start.
However, this time, Rosenior won’t have the luxury of observing from the stands.