Liam Rosenior is about to face Leeds United as Chelsea boss for the third time.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has served up Leeds United praise ahead of Tuesday night’s showdown at Stamford Bridge, hailing a particular Whites pair with a declaration about the club’s fans.
Former Hull City boss Rosenior faced Leeds twice during his time in charge of the Tigers and a first clash against the Whites as Chelsea boss now awaits through the midweek Premier League visit of Daniel Farke’s side.
Rosenior was still in charge of French club Strasbourg as Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat in December’s reverse fixture at Elland Road although the 41-year-old manager watched the game as a neutral and was impressed with what he saw from Farke’s side.
November’s win against Chelsea proved the first instalment of a seven-game unbeaten run for Leeds who have now lost just two of their last 12 and sit six points clear of the dropzone ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
Friday’s 3-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest made it five wins from United’s last 12 games, Rosenior saluting Leeds as “magnificent” against Forest and picking out boss Farke, striker Calvert-Lewin and also the club’s fans for praise.
Pressed on Chelsea being ‘bullied’ in the reverse fixture at Leeds and what he had learned from that, Rosenior reasoned: “You watch every game. It's very difficult for me because I watch games - when I first watched that game, it was as a neutral.
“You can see in their recent performances as well”
"I had no idea within two or three months I'd be manager of Chelsea.
"Going to Elland Road, it's always really, really difficult, always been difficult. It's a club where their fans have backed them really, really strongly at home.
"Daniel's an outstanding coach - you can see in their recent performances as well. Calvert-Lewin's in really good form.
“The way that they press, their energy, they're direct in a really positive way. It's going to be a really difficult game again. I'm not here to talk about what's happened in the past or what happened before I was here. I'm focused on the game tomorrow."
Asked if he expected that same approach and physicality from Leeds, Rosenior declared: “Yeah, you saw it against Nottingham Forest, they were magnificent in that game. Very forward-thinking. And when I say direct, I mean it in a really positive way.
“They used the strengths of the team, they used Dominic. His movement in the box is outstanding. They get crosses in the box. They counter-press really, really well. We have to stand up to that and overcome those intensity things that are key to the game."
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