The time coach Liam Rosenior led Chelsea started with a streak of 11 matches in 35 days. The extremely limited break time between matches made it almost impossible for him to create a clear tactical impression. In that context, the 41-year-old coach chose not to change too much, believing that the foundation Enzo Maresca left is stable enough.
Initial reality supports this view. Chelsea won 8 of the first 11 matches under Rosenior, only losing to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. A few adjustments such as more aggressive man-marking began to appear, but the overall playing style is still safe to suit the tight schedule.
The turning point came when the schedule was relaxed. After the victory over Hull in the FA Cup, Chelsea had a longer break, even about 8 days between 2 matches. This is considered an opportunity for Rosenior to fully implement his philosophy.
He admitted that for the first time he had 2 days of full tactical preparation and expected the team to show a clearer face. However, reality went in the opposite direction.
The more time they had to train, the worse the Blues played. The 1-1 draw against Burnley started a series of declines, before the team only won 3 in the next 12 matches, including two wins against lower-ranked teams.
The peak was a 5-match losing streak in the Premier League without scoring a single goal, the worst record since 1912. Ball control was no longer effective, while the attack became deadlocked with dozens of harmless shots.
Tactical problems gradually became apparent. Rosenior's full-field marking system was exploited thoroughly in heavy defeats against PSG and Newcastle. Even a small mistake caused the pressing structure to collapse, revealing a large gap behind.
Even within the club, signs of rift have appeared. Enzo Fernandez publicly mentioned the possibility of leaving the team, Marc Cucurella questioned Maresca's decision to sack him, and the player's statements on the field showed a lack of unity with the coaching staff.
Rosenior's reputation was eroded not only by the results, but also by the approach considered naive. Off-field actions such as excessive reactions or unconvincing statements further made him lose points in the eyes of fans.
Chelsea clearly did not only have problems from an individual, but the team's decline when they had more preparation time is clear evidence of Rosenior's failure. Compared to other coaches like Michael Carrick, who took advantage of training time to improve the team, the difference became even clearer.
After all, Rosenior left in the context of Chelsea falling to the middle of the rankings, leaving behind a team that not only did not improve but also regressed over time.
On behalf of the entire Chelsea club, we would like to express our deep gratitude to Liam Rosenior and his team for their efforts over the past time. He has always shown professionalism at the highest level since his appointment.
This is not an easy decision, but the results and performances recently have not been as expected, while we still have goals ahead. Wish Liam all success in the future" - Chelsea's announcement said.
