Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenoir (left) and Arsenal players - both pics GETTY
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenoir (left) and Arsenal players - both pics GETTY
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenoir deemed an Arsenal support staff enroaching their half of the pitch in warm-up ahead of their EFL Cup semi-final second-leg clash as disrespectful. The Blues lost the game 1-0 at the Emirates to lose the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
Rosenoir's side failed to make their home advantage count in the first leg last month at Stamford Bridge, losing 3-2 despite an Alejandro Garnacho double. With the Blues failing to score in the return, they went out, with former Blues man Kai Havertz rubbing insult to injury with a stoppage-time breakway strike.
A Gunners support staff member was caught on camera intruding the Blues half of the pitch during warm-up, which didn't enthuse Rosenoir (as per Sky Sports):
"It wasn't the (Arsenal) players. I'm respectful, when you warm-up you have your half and the other team has theirs. I've never asked my team or coaches to encroach on the opposition's territory.
"In that moment, I didn't think it was right where they were operating. They were affecting my lads' and staff's warm-up. I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half."
He added:
"I'm not here to have mind games. It's just what I think is right and respectful, and hopefully we respect that and other teams do too. There are certain etiquettes in football. I always try and be as respectful as possible. I always want to win. I've never asked my coaches (to do that)."
"I don't have any issue with anyone at Arsenal. They have a fantastic manager. Mikel (Arteta) is someone I have so much respect for. It was just, in that moment, I didn't think that respect was shown to my team."
The Gunners take on Manchester City in the final next month as they seek their first EFL Cup title in more than three decades.
"In hindsight, you can always change and improve things" - Chelsea boss after Arsenal defeat
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenoir
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenoir
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenoir commended his team's performance against a strong Arsenal side in their EFL Cup semi-final second-leg loss at the Emirates this week.
The Blues started with a five-man defence, meant to stifle the Gunners. The tactic worked for large swathes, but Rosenoir's side didn't do their part of the bargain - score - which meant elimination from the cup.
"In hindsight, we didn't go through, you can always change and improve certain things that you do," Rosenoir said. "But what I do feel at the same time is that it was a very, very solid performance against a team that is very, very good at home.
"We turned the tide in the second half and the game could have easily gone our way. Disappointed not to go through, but now we'll move on and focus on Wolves."
Chelsea next take on Wolverhampton Wanderers away in the Premier League on Saturday (February 7), while league-leading Arsenal take on Sunderland at home on the same day.