Liam Rosenior outlines his aims at Chelsea from the get-go
After moving on from Enzo Maresca, Chelsea owners BlueCo looked no further than the Blues’ sister club, RC Strasbourg, to source the next boss at Stamford Bridge. Enter former Fulham and Brighton full-back Liam Rosenior.
Speaking to The Standard after his appointment as the new Head Coach of the club, he said he is proud to be where he is and outlined his goals and aspirations as the person in charge at Cobham.
“I know I need to win in the short term, but I need to build for the long term. I’m very, very confident we can do that.”
That line neatly captures both the optimism and the danger facing Chelsea as they turn to Rosenior to arrest a season that has stalled badly.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior outlines targets immediately.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior outlines targets immediately.
This squad is doing several things worse than it did last season, despite further heavy investment. Last year, Chelsea were one of the most aggressive teams in the league in terms of ball progression, ranking among the top sides for carries into the final third. This season, that figure has dropped noticeably, with possession often recycling harmlessly across the back line.
What to fix?
The drop-off in individual performances is just as telling. Cole Palmer was decisive last season, averaging a goal contribution every 115 minutes in the league. This year, that rate has slipped, not because of a lack of talent but because of reduced volume. He is receiving fewer touches in the attacking third and attempting fewer shots per match. The system is no longer putting him in positions where he can decide games.
In midfield, the contrast is even starker. Moises Caicedo, once a dominant ball winner, is still covering ground but is making fewer tackles in the middle third, suggesting Chelsea are defending deeper and reacting rather than imposing themselves. (All stats from FBRef)
Statistically, Chelsea are still creating chances. They average over 14 shots per league game, similar to last season, but their conversion rate has fallen below ten per cent. That inefficiency explains why performances that look decent on paper keep ending in draws or narrow defeats. It also explains Rosenior’s emphasis on short-term wins. Margins are killing Chelsea right now. Rosenior’s first challenge is tightening those margins quickly.
Liam Rosenior outlines his aims at Chelsea from the get-go.
Liam Rosenior outlines his aims at Chelsea from the get-go.
His comments about short-term requirements acknowledge that Chelsea do not need another rebuild right now; they need points. That urgency is increased by the scale of investment. Since the ownership change, Chelsea have spent well over a billion pounds across multiple windows. Even this season, the squad’s age profile and market value suggest a side built to compete immediately, not drift. Among the most expensive sides ever built and struggling to maintain form. Not ideal. Long-term visions can wait. Statistically, Chelsea’s season will be defined in the next eight to ten matches. Rosenior knows it, the board knows it, and the numbers leave no room for comfort.