The Chelsea squad showed there is plenty of life in them yet despite a week which saw them lose Enzo Maresca as the first team coach.
Enzo Fernandez’s last-minute goal secured a point for the Blues against Manchester City, bringing delight to interim manager Calum McFarlane.
It looks as if that will be the U21s manager’s only game in charge of the club, with Liam Rosenior set to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Liam Rosenior set to be announced as Enzo Maresca replacement ⌛
Liam Rosenior stats at Strasbourg
Photo by Sathiri Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca at Chelsea:
91 games
55 wins
16 draws
20 losses
Is this a step backwards, or another exciting young manager who will hit the ground running at Chelsea?
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Rosenior will be under instant pressure to deliver results in order to get some supporters back on board, and no new big names are expected to join the club during the January transfer window.
Liam Rosenior, Manager of Strasbourg, applauds the fans
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Gary Neville says Chelsea need three 30-year-olds to turn them into winners under Liam Rosenior
Gary Neville believes a number of new players are needed for the incoming coach to turn a team who can be ‘sensational’ into more consistent winners.
The pundit said on ‘The Gary Neville Podcast’ that Chelsea need to add three experienced players, aged around 30, to turn the club’s fortunes around.
He said: “That’s a good end to this week. When you lose a manager, it’s always harrowing. It’s been coming for two or three weeks. His worst 48 hours, subliminal messages, reading into things. It’s almost worst when manager’s do that, because you’re left wondering who he’s having a go at. But what you know is that it isn’t going to end well.
“I wasn’t surprised at all by Maresca being out of a job. It’s quite inexperienced all the way through the club, and with that you get inconsistencies. They can be really sensational in parts of matches, such a nice team to watch, but you think where is that fierceness, that ruthlessness, that mental strength that will get this talented club who have spent a lot of money into a club that’s going to win things.
“Everyone knows where they’re really short. They’re short in goal, short at centre-half, and they’re short up front. That team needs three 30-year-olds who’ve been around the block and know how to win, as a minimum.”
Aston Villa v Manchester United - Premier League
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Chelsea not expected to change model for Rosenior
Chelsea expect their managers to be able to work within the confinements of the structure they lay out, and this is not going to change for Rosenior.
Blues supporters can expect more opportunistic signings to come into the club that mirror the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap.
Liam Delap has made a real impact off the bench!
Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League
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Would you start Delap against Fulham on Wednesday?
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Rosenior has previously worked with Delap at Hull City, and he is one player who has certainly needed his fortunes to turn around at Stamford Bridge.
His cameo performance against City showed there is absolutely a player there for Rosenior to work with, showing far closer to the talents the club were hoping for when they signed him.
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