Liam Rosenior says he and his players are focused on giving the ‘fantastic’ Chelsea supporters the success they want and deserve, while fostering a bond with the Blues faithful that will make Stamford Bridge a fortress.
The 41-year-old takes charge of his first match as Chelsea head coach later today, as we make the short trip across London to face Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round.
Rosenior is looking forward to making an impression on the Blues supporters with his side’s football and is determined to give them a team and a performance they can be proud of.
‘My focus is on the performance of the team. I think, if you're a supporter and you see your team perform – even when they don't win sometimes – if the players run and fight and give everything for the shirt, you go home happy. That's what I want for the supporters; that's what I want to see in the team.
‘My job is to make the team the best I possibly can in a short space of time, and we have about 100 games in two months! I have to focus on the best training sessions, the best meetings, the best feedback I can give the players and the best one-to-one meetings that my staff have with the players.
‘The supporters of this club are fantastic and the supporters want the best thing for the club. They want to see the club win trophies. My job is to deliver that and it's what my focus is on.’
Furthermore, Rosenior hopes performances that get the Chelsea supporters off their seats will help create a great atmosphere and strong bond both at Stamford Bridge and on the road, which in turn can spur the players on even more.
‘The fans are so important for the atmosphere in the stadium, home and away,’ our new head coach continued. ‘They make a massive difference to the energy of the place.
‘I want a brave, fearless, front-footed team who aren’t afraid to make mistakes. When you've got Stamford Bridge behind you – and I've been there as a player – it's so difficult to play there for the opposition.
‘The away support of this club is also incredible, I want to create really strong connections with them.’
While Rosenior must wait a little longer for his first taste of the Stamford Bridge atmosphere from the home dugout, the task of doing Chelsea's away support proud begins in just a matter of hours, when he leads the Blues for the first time at The Valley in this evening's FA Cup tie.