Liam Rosenior admitted Chelsea were taken to their limits after the Blues needed extra-time to defeat Wrexham 4-2 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Championship side proved stubborn opposition throughout the fifth-round clash, pushing Chelsea all the way before late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro sealed victory.
Rosenior was quick to credit Wrexham’s performance after the game.
“I agree,” he said when asked whether it was one of Chelsea’s toughest matches of the season. “That's every reason why the FA Cup is what it is. I think they were magnificent. Magnificent in their energy, and how brave they were in the press, and how they played. We were pushed all the way by a very good team.”
Despite the pressures faced away from home, Rosenior highlighted the resilience his squad have shown repeatedly since he took charge. “No, to be honest, nothing new,” he said when asked what he had learned about his players. “We went 1-0 down early against Aston Villa. We were 2-0 down at half-time against West Ham."
“We have to find a way to not be in that position, but what the players are showing me, no matter who's on the pitch, is a really good spirit and a belief and a determination to win games of football, which we're going to need for the rest of the season.”
The Chelsea boss also addressed two VAR decisions during the game, insisting the correct calls were made. One of the decisions coming when Wrexham were reduced to ten men for George Dobson’s high challenge on Garnacho.
“They're both correct decisions from me,” Rosenior said. “I know it's frustrating. Any challenge that's dangerous is a dangerous challenge, and if you're offside, you're offside. It doesn't matter how small the margins are. We needed elements of luck today because Wrexham were that good in terms of their performance.”
Rosenior also admitted his side lacked control at times, something he believes can happen in emotional cup ties. Wrexham had 13 shots in the second half, compared to Chelsea's nine - perhaps a sign of complacency.
“It was the same against Crystal Palace about six weeks ago when I first joined,” he explained. "We played really well when 3-0 up. We have control, and we need to find a way to get the game managed better. But in these cup ties, when there's emotion, you can feel the emotion of the game."
Rotation was another key topic during the press conference, with Rosenior explaining why he made several changes to his starting lineup.
“Yeah, that's the risk that you take,” he said.
“We are going into a period of games where, for example, Romeo Lavia can be really important because he has to play minutes. We have to get him to speed. Dario Essugo, we have to give him the time on the pitch. It's not just about your first 11 or your first 12 players to get us to where we want to be,” Rosenior added.
“The only way that our players and our squad are going to help us to achieve what I think is possible is for them to be sharp and ready. That's a risk that you take by rotating, but it's also the trust I have in the group.”
He concluded by insisting the focus now must be on building momentum in the latter stages of the season.
“What we now have to do is make sure that we capitalise on the position we're in at all the competitions.”