New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior revealed that he did “nothing tactical, nothing technical” ahead of his first match against Charlton, hinting at the direction he plans to take the team.
While the 41-year-old coach may not be lacking in innovation or strategies to counter opponents, his approach seems similar to that of his predecessor Enzo Maresca, reducing the need for a complete overhaul.
In response to a question from BBC Sport about his lack of visible tactical adjustments prior to Chelsea’s 5-1 triumph in the FA Cup third round, Rosenior stated: “This is a team that won the Club World Cup just five months ago and the Conference League last year. We’re a good team.”
Rosenior, who was brought on board to continue Maresca’s legacy, is well-versed in Chelsea’s playing style, having been involved in their multi-club model at French side Strasbourg. The two clubs share a nearly identical approach, allowing for seamless transitions of players and coaches between them. In Saturday’s match, Chelsea maintained the same 4-2-3-1 shape employed by Maresca while integrating a 3-2-2-3 build-up strategy that Rosenior utilized at Strasbourg.
However, some changes have been made. Chelsea has had difficulty securing leads this season, allowing 15 points to slip from winning positions in the Premier League and securing only one victory in their last nine league games.
“The main challenge I posed to the players was about our reactions to setbacks and our intensity. I was pleased with the unity and spirit of the group today,” Rosenior noted. “I was happy with the intensity with which they approached the game—winning duels, winning headers, and focusing on the basics, which is where we find our joy.”
Sources from Rosenior’s initial training sessions indicate that intensity was a recurring theme, something he emphasized during his first press conference. This has been an area needing improvement for Chelsea, especially concerning their sometimes sluggish possession play.
Additionally, the team has been susceptible to set-piece weaknesses, conceding again when Miles Leaburn scored to narrow the gap to 2-1 in the second half before Chelsea ultimately sealed a comfortable victory.
“We must improve in that aspect as well—long throws, corners, and wide free-kicks into our area are the essentials I emphasize in football,” Rosenior explained.
It seems that altering the system and style of play is not high on Rosenior’s agenda given the packed schedule ahead and limited preparation time.
An Exercise in Confidence Building
Liam Rosenior is the first Chelsea manager to win his opening game since Antonio Conte in 2016 [Reuters]
In reality, Chelsea’s 5-1 victory may have been slightly flattering, as substitutes Liam Delap, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, and Estevao Willian proved too much for a fatigued Charlton team.
Rosenior is now the first Chelsea manager to secure victory in his debut since Antonio Conte in August 2016, marking the largest winning margin for the club since Luiz Felipe Scolari in August 2008.
“I was pleased with the starting XI. The front three were great. I felt Ale [Garnacho] was persistent in his one-on-ones,” Rosenior commented. “Marc Guiu was exceptional and deserved his goal, while Jamie [Gittens] was making impressive runs and seemed capable of creating numerous opportunities. Overall, a lot of positives and a fantastic start.”
One standout performer was defender Jorrel Hato, who netted the opening goal while playing in a role previously occupied by Marc Cucurella. At just 19, Hato made inverted runs into attacking midfield positions when Chelsea was aggressive, found himself in critical areas, and capitalized on opportunities.
The £37m summer signing from Ajax has had a rocky start at Stamford Bridge but has displayed significant improvement, particularly since Maresca’s departure, with strong performances against Manchester City and Fulham in recent league matches.
“I saw him play at Fulham and was truly impressed. He’s taken it to another level today—not just in scoring but in his defensive skills too,” Rosenior said.
There were concerns when Rosenior mentioned that Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Malo Gusto were omitted from the squad due to injuries sustained in the loss to Fulham last Wednesday, particularly with tougher challenges ahead.
Next up is a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League match against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
“He will be evaluated on his performance against quality teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa,” remarked former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin on BBC 5 Live. “He has a busy month ahead with many fixtures to assess his players. Four home games and two away games, one of which is against Wolves, who have struggled this season.”
“There’s no easy task ahead, but the schedule looks relatively favorable. He will gain insights into which players are on the fringe, and I’m confident he’ll identify several key contributors.”
However, not all was celebration; Chelsea fans maintained their protests against the ownership throughout the match, even chanting “attack, attack, attack” as the team struggled to break through until just before halftime.
The atmosphere among supporters remains tense amid lingering distrust of the ownership. This presents a potential challenge for Rosenior, who, as a recruit from Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s club Strasbourg, might be perceived as a yes-man.
When asked about the fans’ chants, Rosenior replied: “For now, I will focus entirely on working as hard as possible to help this team reach its unlimited potential. If we concentrate on our efforts, hopefully, people will recognize that we are making progress.”