Liam Rosenior has reinforced Chelsea's status as proven trophy winners ahead of their crucial Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal on Tuesday evening. The Blues manager emphasised his squad's experience in lifting silverware, contrasting with Arsenal's five-year drought since their last major honour.
Chelsea's Winning Pedigree Versus Arsenal's Silverware Wait
Chelsea must overturn a 3-2 deficit when they visit the Emirates Stadium to secure a place in what would be their first final under Rosenior's management. The Blues enter this high-stakes encounter with recent trophy success fresh in memory, having won both the Conference League and Club World Cup under previous manager Enzo Maresca last season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's most recent significant triumph remains their 2020 FA Cup victory, with the 2023 Community Shield representing their only subsequent piece of silverware. While Mikel Arteta's side appear poised to end their drought this campaign, Rosenior believes his Chelsea players possess crucial experience in handling pressure-filled occasions.
Rosenior Highlights Chelsea's Big-Game Experience
'My players, I look at perhaps Enzo Fernandez, who has won a World Cup, and the group winning two trophies last year,' Rosenior stated. 'They can play in big games, they can perform in big games, and it is definitely a big game on Tuesday.'
The Chelsea manager deliberately avoided discussing Arsenal's recent record, instead focusing on his own team's preparation. 'I won't speak about what Arsenal or Mikel Arteta have or haven't done. That's not my concern. My concern is resting. It's another three-game week. We need to recover. It's going to be a really physical game on Tuesday.'
Rosenior acknowledged Arsenal's advantage in the tie, stating: 'The reality is Arsenal are favourites for the tie. They're a goal up and they're at home, so they'll expect to go through. We need to take it as far as we can and as deep as we can and then the second half hopefully will be massive in terms of turning the tie around.'
Chelsea's Recent Comeback Form Provides Encouragement
The Blues have demonstrated remarkable resilience in recent matches, suggesting they possess the mentality required for Tuesday's challenge. Last week in the Champions League, Chelsea trailed Napoli 2-1 at half-time before securing a dramatic 3-2 victory.
This weekend in Premier League action, Rosenior's side found themselves 2-0 down against West Ham United at the interval. Three half-time substitutions inspired another remarkable turnaround, with Chelsea eventually triumphing 3-2.
Squad Depth and Rotation Philosophy
Rosenior explained his approach to squad management, rejecting the notion of having a fixed 'best eleven'. 'I never have done in all of the clubs that I've worked with. Why? Because of the demands, the physical demands of the Premier League, or Ligue 1, or the Championship now with 46 games.'
'You need a squad, and you need to use the players in the correct way to challenge over the course of the season. I can't speak for other managers if they have a best eleven. I try to pick the right starting team, but I also try to pick a bench that will give us the right finishing team as well.'
The Chelsea manager praised his substitutes' impact, saying: 'So far, I have to say, the substitutes in every game we've played have made a huge impact. It's not down to my tactical stuff, there's some part of that, but it's down to their mentality.'
Willian's Availability Uncertain for Arsenal Clash
Estevao Willian missed Chelsea's comeback victory against West Ham after returning to Brazil for personal reasons. Regarding the 18-year-old's availability for the Arsenal match, Rosenior offered a compassionate perspective.
'I don't know yet. With Este, he is a young kid who has come and been magnificent. He is going through a really difficult time for personal reasons and is on compassionate leave. I won't put any pressure on him. It has to be right for him and he has to feel in the right place to perform for this team.'
As Chelsea prepare for their Emirates Stadium challenge, Rosenior's emphasis on his squad's trophy-winning experience provides psychological reinforcement against an Arsenal side seeking to end their own silverware drought. The stage is set for a compelling Carabao Cup semi-final conclusion between two London rivals with contrasting recent histories in major competitions.
