Rosenior was not happy ahead of kick-off (Picture: Sky Sports)
Liam Rosenior has clarified the X-rated tirade that was caught on camera ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg wasn’t aimed at any Arsenal players.
The Blues saw their hopes of overturning a 3-2 first leg deficit go up in smoke at the Emirates Stadium after Kai Havertz’s goal against his former club booked a place at Wembley for Mikel Arteta’s side.
It was a sobering experience for Rosenior who would’ve been justifiably confident of causing an upset, given his side’s five-match winning run and their recent comeback heroics against West Ham.
Enzo Maresca’s successor was in a downbeat mood after the game but he was in a prickly mood even before the match got underway, caught on camera directing a sweary missive at members of the Arsenal backroom team who had encroached into Chelsea’s half.
Asked for an explanation at his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s game against Wolves, Rosenior said: ‘When you warm up you have your half and the other team have their half.
‘In that moment I didn’t think it was right where they were operating. They were affecting my lads’ warm-up.
‘So I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half. I’m not here to have mind games, it’s just what I think is right and respectful.
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‘There’s certain etiquette in football. I don’t have an issue with anyone at Arsenal. It was just in that moment I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.’
It is not the first time that controversy has been stirred over the issue of pre-match warm-ups.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would frequently stand on or near the halfway line close to where opposition teams were going through their paces and watch intently.
Critics at the time accused him of attempting to intimidate the other team, but speaking at an event in January last year he clarified the reason behind the habit.
‘Actually I did it to understand the other team a little bit better,’ said Klopp. ‘They thought I did it to intimidate them.’
Chelsea v West Ham United - Premier League
Pedro Neto missed out as Chelsea lost to Arsenal this week (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Carabao Cup exit has been the only setback of Rosenior’s first month in charge which has brought three wins out of three in the Premier League as well as direct progression to the last 16 of the Champions League.
His biggest challenge so far has been dealing with intense media interest in Cole Palmer. The team’s most creative player has been out of form this season and reports emerged in January that he was unsettled and favoured a return to his native Manchester.
There has also been the issue of fitness. His minutes have been carefully managed following a groin injury that caused him to miss a number of weeks before Christmas and he has been unable to string together a run of games.
Fulham v Chelsea - Premier League
Cole Palmer has had a season disrupted by fitness issues (Picture: Getty Images)
Rosenior said both Palmer and Estevao are ready to play 90 minutes away at Wolves on Saturday, and added: ‘We have the very best medical team, the very best sports science team. We do many tests. We want to make sure these players can play at the level they need to play at to help us win.
‘In terms of Cole, there isn’t a timeframe where he’s going to be perfect in a month or two months, it’s just game to game.
‘He’s bought in, he’s been magnificent. He is maturing as a human being and he understands the bigger picture which is his career.’
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