Liam Rosenior has put an end to rumors that he doesn’t have power at Chelsea. The new Chelsea manager spoke about rumors that he doesn’t have a say in transfers or in how the club runs things at Stamford Bridge.
People were surprised when Rosenior was hired because Chelsea have had a lot of managers leave recently and Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital own the club. There have been questions about how much the head coach really has to say about who the team signs, since the west London club run a multi-club model that includes RC Strasbourg in France.
When asked about having control at Chelsea, Rosenior, who had worked in that structure at Strasbourg before, was very clear:
“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.”
The former Hull City manager also said that his time in France showed that the ownership group values the opinions of managers. He went on to say:
“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.”
His comments suggest that he and the club’s leaders have a clear understanding of who is in charge of what. It’s a message that will make Chelsea fans feel better after seeing other managers struggle to make their mark on the team while bringing in a lot of new players.
Rosenior Prepares For First Test Against Charlton
Rosenior won’t have to wait long for his time at Stamford Bridge to really start. The manager’s first competitive game in charge of Chelsea will be against Charlton Athletic. Rosenior can try out his ideas in the game against the Championship team without the stress of a Premier League game right away. Charlton, who play at The Valley, will test Chelsea’s depth as the new manager looks at his options.
The match will mean more to Rosenior than just the score, as the Blues are widely expected to beat the lower league club. As he tries to make a big impression at Stamford Bridge, everyone will be watching his team selection and tactical approach.