Rosenior was without some key playersplaceholder image
Rosenior was without some key players | Getty Images
Liam Rosenior has provided a fitness update after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal.
Two Robert Sanchez errors saw Chelsea fall two goals behind before Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench and got the Blues back within one. Martin Zubimendi then extended Arsenal’s lead, and after Sanchez made a top save to prevent the Gunners extending their lead, Garnacho scored again to get the score-line back within one heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Ahead of that busy run of fixtures, Rosenior was asked about some of the key players who have been in and out of contention as they bid to return to action.
On Cole Palmer, Rosenior told Sky Sports: “The game came too early for him. Hopefully, he'll be available to train on Friday. And hopefully, he'll be ready for us to play on Saturday.
"He had a little minor strain in his leg. If you play a player too early in January with a minor strain, it can turn into six weeks. I cannot afford to lose Cole Palmer for six weeks.”
He added on Reece James and Jamie Gittens: “Reece had a big knock on his hip. It was too sore for him today. Hopefully, he'll be back on Saturday.
"Considering those two are out, Jamie Gittins was ill last night - he was set to play today but was ill four hours before the game, he couldn't play - Moises Caicedo was suspended, Malo Gusto was out, there's a lot of positive aspects."
Sanchez defence
Rosenior sided with his goalkeeper, Sanchez, after the game despite the Spaniard being responsible for two goals."I think the first goal was disappointing," the new Chelsea boss continued. “But it's a team goal, it's a team goal. It's not just on Rob.
"I'm asking Rob to do things that he hasn't done before. I said to him before the game, and I made this really clear, when my players make mistakes, I'm accountable. That's on me. He made a save in the second half [from Mikel Merino] that was absolutely world-class. That could have got us out of the tie.
"He's had a very good season, a very, very, very good performance. I stayed positive with him. I said: all my job is to help him, not to blame him. That's his first game with me. I've had two days work with him.”
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