Chelsea Co-Owner Delivers Cautious Backing to Under-Fire Manager
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has issued a public statement of support for manager Liam Rosenior, but coupled it with a stark reminder that football remains a results-driven industry. The Blues are currently mired in a significant slump, having lost their last three Premier League matches without scoring a single goal.
A Club in Crisis as Form Plummets
The situation at Stamford Bridge is growing increasingly dire. Chelsea have not secured a Premier League victory since their 4-1 away triumph over Aston Villa. Their last league win at home dates back to January 31, a dramatic 3-2 comeback against relegation-threatened West Ham. This poor run has seen the club slide out of the top five and fall further behind Liverpool in the standings.
Matters could deteriorate further this weekend as Chelsea prepare to host Manchester United, a crucial fixture in their faltering campaign. The team is also reeling from a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in their most recent outing.
Eghbali's Public Vote of Confidence
Speaking at the CAA's World Congress of Sports conference in Los Angeles, BlueCo majority shareholder Behdad Eghbali offered his assessment. "On Liam [Rosenior], we had the opportunity to work with him daily for 18 plus months, so we knew what we were getting," Eghbali stated. "We think he has every attribute to be successful here. He got off to a great start. We've had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we're behind Liam."
However, the co-owner immediately tempered this support with a reality check. "Of course, it's a results business, but we think he can be successful long term," he added, underscoring the pressure Rosenior faces during the season's final stretch.
A History of Managerial Instability
Eghbali's comments come against a backdrop of significant turbulence in the Chelsea dugout. Since the consortium led by BlueCo and Clearlake Capital acquired the club, they have overseen a rapid turnover of managers. Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and most recently Enzo Maresca have all departed, either through dismissal or mutual agreement, with Frank Lampard also serving an interim spell.
Despite this chaotic recent history, Eghbali insisted the ownership group is seeking stability. "Our policy has been no in-season [head coach] changes," he claimed. "You certainly review and hold not only the manager, but the management team, the sporting team, accountable, but typically in the summers, not in season."
He acknowledged the disruptive impact of Maresca's mid-season departure but framed it as an unavoidable setback. "It's not a change we wanted to make. It's a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you're changing systems and personnel, and it's one we've got to fight our way out of."
Fighting Spirit and Future Prospects
With six Premier League matches remaining and an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on the horizon, Eghbali called for resilience. "So, hopefully the story of this season hasn't been written yet, and you've got a lot to fight for," he said. "In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you've got to fight back, you've got to stand up and fight. And it's going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad."
He concluded by reiterating the long-term goal. "I think the perspective is stability, and frankly, getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven't done right yet, and it's something we're striving to improve on."
For Liam Rosenior, the message is clear: he retains the owners' backing for now, but that support is conditional on immediate improvements and positive results, starting with the pivotal clash against Manchester United.
