By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER
Published: 17:30 EST, 9 January 2026 | Updated: 17:30 EST, 9 January 2026
Liam Rosenior declared Chelsea’s potential as ‘limitless' at an impressive first press conference on Friday, with the new Blues boss outlining the scale of his ambition by citing Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ era under Sir Alex Ferguson as one his young side can try to emulate.
Rosenior exuded confidence at a media unveiling in which he also quoted one of his ‘heroes’ in Jose Mourinho and told us he will ‘make the decisions at this football club’ amid accusations that the hierarchy above him hold all the authority within Stamford Bridge.
The 41-year-old Englishman likewise asked Chelsea’s fans to allow him a ‘fair’ chance and judge his appointment from their sister side Strasbourg once they have witnessed his football, with his first game in charge away at Championship Charlton in the FA Cup tonight.
When asked if he can turn the Premier League’s youngest side in history into winners, Rosenior explained how he grew up supporting United and said: ‘I had the same question thrown at me 18 months ago when I walked in at Strasbourg and it motivated me. There’s nothing better than being on a journey with a group.
‘I remember Sir Alex Ferguson was brave enough to put six, seven players between the ages of 19 and 21 in his team, in a title-winning team, because he believed in them.
‘What they did is they grew and they won trophy after trophy after trophy. It was an amazing period in that club's history. Without that bravery, that does not happen.
Liam Rosenior declared Chelsea’s potential as ‘limitless' in his first press conference on Friday
The new Blues boss outlined the scale of his ambition by citing Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ era as one his team can try to emulate (pictured L-R: Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Man United youth coach Eric Harrison, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham in 1999)
'There is potential for that here. There is potential. It's not reality. There is potential for that. Speak about Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez or Cole Palmer or Reece James – world-class players and still very, very young. That is the ultimate ambition for this club – to create that again.
‘I’m not trying to say I’m going to deliver that and it will definitely happen. But I will not limit the ambition of the club. I’ve shown at Strasbourg, I can work with young players, I can improve them and win games at the same time. There is no reason why I can't do that here, either.’
It was pointed out to Rosenior that Ferguson’s United side was also sprinkled with experience, such as Eric Cantona, Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel, to which he replied: ‘You will see in time what will happen here and the discussions we’ve had.
‘This project is about winning. It’s not about anything but trying to deliver trophies for Chelsea. Whether it’s me at the club in three, four, five years, this club will be successful for a long time.
‘If I didn't believe that I could be successful here, I honestly wouldn't have taken the job. It wouldn't have been fair to the supporters or the players.’
Rosenior began his briefing by shaking the hand of each reporter in the room and was equally respectful in praising the work of his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, who left on New Year’s Day amid tension with Chelsea’s hierarchy.
On the scrutiny surrounding his choice as Maresca's successor, Rosenior said: ‘Everybody starts somewhere. There’s a great quote from Mourinho. Mourinho is one of my heroes. I’ve studied him. He said it took him “20 years to become an overnight success”. It’s the same for anyone. You’re not a name until you become a name.
‘Judge what you see. Don’t judge what you hear. Don’t judge my press conferences. I don’t win any games here. Judge what you see on the pitch. Give myself, my staff and my players the chance to prove we are worthy. Judge us and be fair. If the performances aren’t good enough, I’ll be the first one to say that. I will hold my hands up. Give us the chance.'
The head coach urged fans and the media to 'judge what they see' rather than what they hear
Rosenior began his briefing by respectfully shaking the hand of each reporter in the room
Rosenior hopes Chelsea’s supporters, while not entirely enthralled with their ownership’s model, will help make Stamford Bridge a fortress again. ‘Fans are so important for the atmosphere,’ he said. ‘They make a massive difference to the energy of the players. I want a brave, fearless, front-footed team who aren’t afraid to make mistakes.’
On having control within Chelsea, including a say in signings, Rosenior said: ‘I don't think it's possible to ever be in this job and not be your own man. I will make the decisions at this football club.
‘That's why I've been brought in. I'm not an alien. I know what's being said in the press. But there's no way you can be successful as a manager if you don't make the decisions for yourself.
‘I've experienced working in this set-up. I did not get one player brought in who I did not want to come to Strasbourg. Not one.’