Liam Rosenior should probably check if the ink on his 6-year contract as Chelsea head coach has dried up in time, because he is stepping straight into a storm at Stamford Bridge. And that storm may just be beginning.
Rosenior took over a chaotic team, lacking reliable goalkeepers and full-backs, a squad heavily focused on young talents rather than experience. But the most alarming thing is not the expertise, but the off-field discord and the wave of fans' outrage targeting two co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
After the 1-2 defeat to Fulham, Chelsea fans went from disappointment to directly attacking the leadership with vulgar words, asking them to leave. Even, the name of former owner Roman Abramovich was heard in the stands.
That stuffy atmosphere is clearly present in Chelsea, and Rosenior - although not the cause - is becoming part of that gloomy picture.
The new coach, who left partner club Strasbourg to replace dismissed Enzo Maresca earlier this week, signed on Tuesday. However, in the defeat at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, he only appeared as a spectator. Rosenior decided not to directly coach because he did not have enough time to work with the team, choosing to sit next to Eghbali in the stands, while interim coach Calum McFarlane ran the team on the field.
That could be Rosenior's second mistake. First mistake? It was accepting to lead Chelsea from the beginning.
To be fair, Rosenior - who was once sacked by Hull City in the Championship - can hardly refuse the opportunity to sit in the hot seat at a "big player" like Chelsea. But the context of bringing him to Stamford Bridge has increased the instability in the hearts of fans.
Maresca has never been a widely loved name, considered to be overrated after a season with Leicester City. However, the Italian coach still won respect when bringing in the UEFA Conference League, FIFA Club World Cup and a Champions League spot last season.
When Maresca expressed disappointment in the last few weeks, he unintentionally spoke up for the thoughts of many fans. Therefore, his dismissal and quick replacement with Rosenior - instead of a world-class coach true to "Abramovich standards" - only added fuel to the fire.
It is noteworthy that when the crowd shouted slogans against the boss, they did not use any slogans in support of Rosenior. He only received indifference - a rare thing for any strategist who has just taken office.
If Rosenior appeared on the wings, directed and "lived" with the match, he might have somewhat won sympathy. But that will have to wait for his official debut on Saturday, in the third round of the FA Cup against Charlton Athletic.
And when you start working, Rosenior will see a dense list of tasks.
The Blues have a lot of talent, but lack direction and discipline. Marc Cucurella's red card for tackling Harry Wilson in the first half is a typical example. That was their seventh red card in all competitions this season, 4 more than any other team in the Premier League.
Rosenior needs to immediately bring order and discipline. However, the question is whether he can do that without owning a world-class center-back to organize the defense, in the context of unstable full-backs.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is in a "too crowded but not elite" situation. The force is thick, but currently no one is really shining, and that explains the 5-match winless streak in the league.
Maresca has difficulty maintaining stability, but Rosenior somehow has to create it, because Chelsea is falling behind in the Champions League race. After this defeat, Chelsea has fallen to seventh place.
After almost "sitting and watching" his first day in office, Rosenior will start his real work from tomorrow and officially debut on Saturday. If Chelsea loses to Charlton in a London derby, it will be a nightmare start.
