New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has previously disciplined a Blues player during his tenure as manager of Strasbourg. The French Ligue 1 team suspended on-loan Chelsea forward Emmanuel Emegha in December for violating 'the values, expectations and rules' of the club. The Dutch striker is set to make the move to Stamford Bridge next summer, having agreed a pre-contract in September 2025. A seven-year contract awaits Emegha when he transfers to west London.
However, the 22-year-old has already raised eyebrows regarding his discipline before reuniting with Rosenior this summer. Strasbourg announced in early December that they had imposed a one-match ban on Emegha - a league fixture against Toulouse. The club did not provide specific reasons for the striker's sanction. The statement read: "Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace has decided to suspend Emmanuel Emegha for its next Ligue 1 match, this Saturday, December 6, in Toulouse.
"This decision was taken following the player's recent failure to respect the club's values, expectations and rules.
"Racing reaffirms its commitment to the essential principles of exemplary conduct and respect for the collective framework. Emmanuel remains an important member of our team, who has always given his all for the club on the pitch. He will be reintegrated into the squad after this match. No further comments will be made."
When the suspensions were announced, Rosenior attributed them to 'clumsy comments to the press'. He stated: "Emma made some clumsy comments to the press that hurt a lot of people, and he had to be punished for that. He also needs to realise that every action has consequences."
After Strasbourg confirmed his suspension, Emegha issued a public response, acknowledging the sanction. In a statement on Instagram, he wrote: "I accept and understand the club's decision to suspend me for this weekend.
"I'm 22 years old, I've made mistakes, and I know I still have a lot to learn. And I have to learn from this. I know I need to do better, and I will do better, on the pitch and off it, to represent the club. That's important to me.
"I want to make it clear that I never intended to hurt anyone. Since I arrived here at 19, I have always given everything for Strasbourg. I'm proud to play for Racing and I'm proud to wear the captain's armband."
Yet Rosenior has previously backed the player. Last September, when news broke of the Dutchman's planned transfer to Chelsea, sections of Strasbourg's support reacted with fury, viewing it as further evidence the club had been reduced to a feeder outfit.
Soon after the £22m arrangement was made public, protest banners appeared in the home section at Strasbourg's stadium targeting both Emegha and club president Marc Keller. One banner, aimed at Emegha, declared: "Apres avoir change de maillot, rends ton brassard" [After changing your shirt, give back your armband].
Rosenior swiftly responded at the time, calling the protest "unacceptable", maintaining Emegha had "earned" a move to a club of Chelsea's calibre. "I was sad when I saw that for one of my players, who's given everything for the club, who deserves to move to a top club," he stated.
"We're not there yet. Hopefully Strasbourg will be seen in two, three years as a top European club. The reality is at the moment, we're not. We have clubs who are higher up the pecking order than we are.
"Emegha is the heart of the team in the way that he plays. For my young team, I have to protect them because they should be celebrated for what they're doing, not penalised for it."
Meanwhile, Rosenior will be watching from the stands at Craven Cottage during Chelsea's visit to Fulham on Wednesday. The 41 year old is scheduled to lead his first training session on Thursday and name his first team for the FA Cup fixture against Charlton on Saturday.