Chelsea are going into 2026 without the leadership of Enzo Maresca, and instead moving into the Liam Rosenior era after his permanent appointment.
Rosenior will be in the stands tonight as Chelsea take on Fulham, with Calum McFarlane tasked with leading the Blues in the West London derby.
It will be a chance for the first team squad to impress the new manager, and build on an impressive second half where Enzo Fernandez’s goal nicked a point late on against Manchester City.
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The Chelsea Chronicle are predicting a number of changes to be made to the starting side tonight, including the return of Robert Sanchez and Wesley Fofana.
Liam Rosenior Farewell Press Conference
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Liam Rosenior’s arrival at Chelsea is bad news for Robert Sanchez
The Spaniard missed the game against City due to a small injury, however is expected to return after being a near ever-present in the league under Maresca.
Sanchez’s performances have drastically improved this season, however he is one of the players who may fear the worst after Rosenior’s hiring.
At Strasbourg, the English manager used Mike Penders as his goalkeeper in a unique way, making the most of his ability to play out from the back.
Chelsea are predicting big things for Penders, and his imminent return from his loan there could spell danger for Sanchez.
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Chelsea have already tried to replace Sanchez
The Spaniard is one of the most experienced players in the squad, and the plan to keep the squad age young could also work against him.
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The Blues have tried to replace Sanchez in the past when they were strongly linked with the signing of Mike Maignan.
Chelsea were expected to bring in the AC Milan goalkeeper before the Club World Cup, however Sanchez ended up winning the goalkeeper of the tournament award.
Interest in Maignan is not as strong anymore, however with the youngster coming through in impressive fashion, the clock is ticking on Sanchez and his time at Stamford Bridge.
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