CHELSEA head coach Liam Rosenior has spoken about the online ridicule he has faced since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, admitting that while he expected the backlash, it has had an impact on his family, writes Sam French.
The 41-year-old was appointed last month as Enzo Maresca’s successor and said he would not allow criticism of his personality, appearance or coaching background to distract him from the job. Rosenior acknowledged that “a lot of people in this country have been laughing at me” since taking the job.
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Despite a strong start that has seen Chelsea win seven of his first nine matches and qualifying for the Champions League last 16, he has often been spoken about for reasons that aren’t directly related to the performances of his team.
Walking into this job it was going to happen. It’s normal
Rosenior has been labelled “LinkedIn Liam” because of his public comments, compared to David Brent for his mannerisms and mocked on social media after miscontrolling a ball during last week’s defeat by Arsenal.
“The reason I know this is because I’ve got teenage children,” Rosenior explained. “They’re on social media. It affects them. It affects my parents, it affects my family. But I knew walking into this job it was going to happen. It’s normal.”
“When you’re prepared for it, it makes you smile. I’m a confident person. If you’re affected by things like that, you shouldn’t be in this job. There’s no way you can do this job if you’re affected negatively by it. I quite enjoy it, to be honest. I didn’t help myself with my first touch at Arsenal, but that comes with the territory.”
Rosenior stated that he believes perceptions will change over time. “I know people will start judging me on what they see on the pitch, which is the most important thing.”
Asked why he had anticipated such a reaction, Rosenior pointed to his background. “My coaching path and coming to a club of this size is different,” he said. “I’m not a massive name. I’m from a different type of club and I have a different type of character.”
The former Derby and Hull coach, who moved to France to manage Strasbourg before joining Chelsea, dismissed suggestions that the mockery feels personal. “It doesn’t affect me,” he said. “I’ve been preparing for this job for years. My focus is doing the job and enjoying it.”
“I love this job. I’m not afraid to be myself. If I wear glasses, if I sound a bit over the top, or don’t look like a manager, it doesn’t bother me at all.”
It was put to him that such criticism is unusual for a young English manager showing promise in a high-profile role, with Rosenior saying “people make their own judgments on people before they meet them,” he added, “that’s part of life.”
On the pitch, he has made a great start to managing Chelsea and will be hoping that it is soon their results and performances that people are talking about in a positive way and not anything else.
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