Liam Rosenior on phone with thumb up
Credit: Imago
Ciaran Morrison
Sun 11 January 2026 21:00, UK
Liam Rosenior will be facing huge demands at Chelsea which could financially impact the club.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Champions League qualification will be a “success” for Rosenior this season.
Rosenior started his tenure in charge of Chelsea with a 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup, after replacing Enzo Maresca earlier in the week.
The 41-year-old will face his first big test when Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Keith Wyness drops Liam Rosenior verdict
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – questions how long Chelsea will stick with Rosenior if the Blues go through a bad patch of form under the former Strasbourg boss.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness is willing to give Rosenior a “chance” in charge of Chelsea.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think he’s got a chance, but it’s how he’s going to handle this elevation to the Premier League and the bear pit that is the Premier League.
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“There’s a reason why there are certain managers that are those high-paid names that we all know is because they’ve got the scars, because they’ve been there. They know it, they understand how to manage up. They know how to handle the media. They’ve done it, but it’s taken them years, and they can all show the scars of having done it.
“But let’s hope Rosenior can do it. I hope so because I like him and I like him to have a chance. He’s a young, good British manager. So let’s hope. But we’ll see how much of a chance he’s given. If things go wrong, will they stick with him? You’ve got to see that right now. Anyway, it’s another one to watch, another one starting off.
“Can he finish the season strongly and get them into Champions League, then he’d be a success. But look, you know, he’s now got hugely different demands on him. At Strasbourg, he was really, you know, look, there were no real demands on where he had to finish with Strasbourg, you know, in terms of compared to Chelsea and the financial implications of not getting things done.
“It’s a difficult one at Chelsea, but listen, we’ll give Liam the best of our wishes, and we’ll be watching you, Liam. Don’t worry.”
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior looking focused
Credit: Getty Images
Chelsea compete with rivals for new signing
Chelsea have handed Rosenior a six-and-a-half year contract, which signals that the club are keen to give him time.
The London club are looking out for January signings, with Chelsea in the race to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
Liverpool and Arsenal will compete with Chelsea for the 20-year-old centre-back, whose Rennes contract does not expire until 2029.