Liam Rosenior does not believe playing 120 minutes against Wrexham will harm preparations for the Champions League clash with PSG
Andy Hampson, Press Association
09:43, 09 Mar 2026
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior
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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior
Liam Rosenior felt the spirit shown by his rotated Chelsea side at Wrexham emphasises a belief and determination that will be crucial in the weeks ahead.
A Blues side showing nine changes avoided a scare at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday as they twice came from behind to scrape past the Championship outfit 4-2 after extra time in the FA Cup fifth round.
Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez did not travel to Wales at all while Reece James, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella were among the substitutes.
With a testing Champions League trip to Paris St Germain to come on Wednesday and with the pressures of challenging for a top-five spot in the Premier League growing, Rosenior said his approach was justified.
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He said: “That’s the risk that you take by rotating but the amount of games the squad have had in the last 18 months is the biggest in the world. At some point, I have to trust the group.
“They repaid my trust with the result and I’ll keep making strong decisions based on where I think we can get to at the end of the season.
“It’s not just about your first 11 or your first 12 players to get us to where we want to be.
“The only way that the players in our squad are going to help us to achieve what I think is possible is for them to be sharp and ready.
“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.”
Chelsea were lacklustre early on and fortunate to be level at half-time after Sam Smith’s opener was cancelled out by an Arthur Okonkwo own goal.
Wrexham reclaimed the lead after 78 minutes of a pulsating contest through Callum Doyle but Josh Acheampong levelled for a second time.
The sending-off of George Dobson then proved pivotal as Chelsea went on to win in extra time with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro, though Wrexham were denied a goal at 3-2 for a tight offside.
Rosenior does not believe playing 120 minutes will harm preparations for Paris.
He said: “I don’t think that will be an issue going into PSG because of the way we are rotating.
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“But it’s not guaranteed if you start your first 11 that these games become easier. These are tough games. Wrexham threw caution to the wind.
“The most important thing is that we are through this round.”