Liam Rosenior fielded questions from reporters on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his Champions League debut as a manager, as Chelsea prepare to host David Luiz’s Pafos.
Rosenior takes charge of his first game in Europe’s elite competition on Wednesday, with Chelsea widely expected to beat Pafos. But he will have to do so without duo Enzo Fernandez and Tosin Adarabioyo.
While Jamie Gittens and Estevao are back, Rosenior confirmed Tosin has a hamstring injury, while Enzo is the latest to pick up the virus circulating Cobham at the moment. Gittens is back after the illness.
Chelsea’s best centre-back duo currently is Tosin and Fofana… 🧱
Who would you start at CB?
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Premier League
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Two players, however, that definitely won’t be involved on Wednesday night are duo Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi. Two components of the notorious bomb squad at Chelsea, Rosenior discussed their future.
Liam Rosenior confirms Axel Disasi is back in Chelsea training
Earlier this week, Disasi was spotted in Chelsea training. With Wesley Fofana still on the comeback trail after injury, and both Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah struggling for form, Disasi is back in the mix.
Disasi and Sterling in Chelsea training.
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Disasi has had interest during January. Initially, it was claimed Milan held talks for Disasi before another raid on the Blues, while Roma are also said to have interest in the French defender, though nothing yet.
Asked if Chelsea could sell £39m signing Disasi before the end of the January window, Rosenior said that actually, Disasi is back in Chelsea training after some good conversations about his future at Chelsea.
“My decision on Axel; I had a really good meeting with him a couple of days ago. It was only right for me to chat with him. He’s behind in terms of his fitness, his match fitness and we’ll work with him,” he said.
What Liam Rosenior said about Raheem Sterling’s future
Like Disasi, Sterling has been ousted from the squad with the England international yet to play a single minute of football for Chelsea this season. Rosenior was asked about the former Man City star today.
Who has been the worst signing of the Todd Boehly era at Chelsea? 👎
Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all have to be contenders…
Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Rosenior said Chelsea are in talks with Sterling: “We’re in conversations with Raheem at the moment about different things going on in his career. Hopefully that will be clearer in the next couple of days.”
Again, like Disasi, Sterling has interest from Serie A. Antonio Conte is keen to raid his old side and lure Sterling to Napoli, while the former Arsenal loanee has been linked with clubs like West Ham and Fulham.
For Sterling, a move feels likely if the winger is willing to drop his wage demands. Whether Chelsea are willing to let him go on a free remains to be seen, but there will have to be some form of compromise.
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