Liam Rosenior really did get away with one in Chelsea’s final Champions League league phase game against Napoli on Wednesday night.
Chelsea were able to defeat Napoli 3-2 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, with Joao Pedro managing to grab a brace.
However, at one stage, the Club World Cup winners found themselves 2-1 down.
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Liam Rosenior's record at Chelsea
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Rosenior tweaked some things at the break that helped Chelsea to turn the game around, but he has to take some responsibility for them being in that position in the first place.
Estevao, Wesley Fofana, and Andrey Santos of Chelsea look dejected
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Liam Rosenior almost punished for centre-back experiment away at Napoli
Despite having Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong available, Wesley Fofana was the only recognised central defender who started against Napoli.
Rosenior explained his Fofana call after the game and will no doubt be looking back at it, as it was a disaster.
Fofana got isolated at times and looked like a duck out of water without having another natural centre-back next to him.
Many Chelsea fans have been discussing the experiment on TalkingPoints, making it clear that it did not work.
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Wesley Fofana and Liam Rosenior
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Had Chelsea signed another centre-half last summer, perhaps Rosenior would not have tried it. Chelsea are keen on Jeremy Jacquet, so in the future, the 20-year-old may prevent such experiments if he joins the club.
Again, though, it is not as if Rosenior was lacking options. Chalobah, Badiashile or Acheampong could have started, and the decision to leave all three of them on the bench almost cost the Conference League holders.
Credit to Chelsea’s new manager, however, as he did bring on Chalobah at a good time in the second half. The England international helped stabilise things as his side went on to win 3-2 and end Napoli’s incredible home record.
iam Rosenior coach of Chelsea FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between SSC Napoli and Chelsea FC
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Chelsea’s central defence going forward
When Levi Colwill returns from injury, the 22-year-old is likely to be an automatic starter under Rosenior.
Last season, Colwill was Chelsea’s first-choice centre-back. He is a modern-day defender who is comfortable on the ball but can also be aggressive.
Until his comeback, a centre-half partnership consisting of Chalobah and one of Fofana or Badiashile is probably the way to go.
Chalobah has been one of Chelsea’s best players this season, so it was unfortunate that he did not start on Wednesday night.
Had he been named in the first XI, the first half may have played out differently and in Chelsea’s favour.
Rosenior will learn from this, though. In just his second ever Champions League game, the 41-year-old has learnt that a big European away game is not the time to be experimenting.
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