Liam Rosenior has entered the final stages of discussions with Chelsea, but there is still the question of what happens in tonight’s Premier League clash with Fulham.
For the umpteenth time, Chelsea are edging closer to getting their Enzo Maresca replacement.
Rosenior was in London on Monday, not at training with Strasbourg.
He will be confirmed as the new head coach shortly, but perhaps not as soon as some fans would have liked, with a Fulham side full of confidence next up to face the Blues.
Chelsea’s impressive record at Craven Cottage 🔥
Chelsea have won seven of their last eight games away at Fulham! What do they have to do to bag another one? 🤔
An empty Craven Cottage
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Calum McFarlane will be on the sideline vs Fulham, not Liam Rosenior
There was optimism that this could all be sorted out in time for this midweek Premier League clash at Craven Cottage.
With no official confirmation yet, that won’t be possible.
As Miguel Delaney writes for the Inside Football newsletter: “Calum McFarlane is expected to be in charge for Fulham on Wednesday as the club does not want to cause unnecessary disruption after a solid display at Manchester City.”
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane applauds the fans with Reece James
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
The justification is a bit strange. Surely if possible, getting Rosenior into the dressing room is the preferable option.
By the sounds of it, he won’t be hired in time to be in the dugout. Whatever the actual reason, we will likely have to wait til the weekend to see our new manager in action.
Fulham no easy feat for Chelsea
Marco Silva’s side are unbeaten in the Premier League since the 13th of December, and most recently broke Liverpool hearts with a 97th-minute to take a point off the champions.
They might be weakened by AFCON, but not so much that this will be a straightforward night for Chelsea.
Chelsea’s starting XI vs Fulham will see plenty of rotation after such a swift turnaround, but McFarlane can’t let complacency slip in.
Finish off our XI to face Fulham!
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If he can pull off a win, it will have been a brilliant interim period for the Under-21 coach, and one that could set him up for a bigger job in the near future.
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