Chelsea icon John Terry has delivered a pointed message of advice to the club's newly-appointed head coach, Liam Rosenior, as he prepares to take charge at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior was officially unveiled on Tuesday, succeeding Enzo Maresca after talks with the Chelsea board in London over the weekend.
Terry's Blueprint for Success
In a video posted on TikTok, the former Blues captain outlined what he believes must be Rosenior's immediate priority. "As a manager, you have the opportunity to walk into the building, and everyone, the players, are going to be watching," Terry stated. He stressed that while results are paramount, the initial impression is critical for winning the dressing room.
Terry continued, "You have the opportunity to earn the players' respect in those first meetings, in those first training sessions as well." He expressed hope that Rosenior, who signed a long-term contract until 2032, would achieve this and bring much-needed stability back to the club over the next two years.
A Divided Squad and Fan Unrest
The appointment comes against a backdrop of internal discord. The Chelsea squad appeared divided following Maresca's departure, with only eight first-team stars publicly bidding farewell to the Italian. Key player Cole Palmer was among the 15 who did not post a personalised tribute within 24 hours of the New Year's Day exit.
Questions linger over whether some of Chelsea's biggest names will respect Rosenior, given his relatively modest managerial CV. Before his stint at Strasbourg, he impressed at Championship side Hull City—where he worked with current Chelsea forward Liam Delap—but was sacked at the end of the 2023-24 season due to a clash of playing philosophies with the club's owner.
Fan discontent is also simmering. The supporter group 'Not a Project CFC' has planned protests against the club's hierarchy before the home match against Brentford on 17 January. They accuse the club of being managed "less like an elite club and more like a player trading farm focused on rotation, speculation, and long-term potential at the expense of current competitiveness."
Challenges on and off the Pitch
Terry acknowledged the difficult schedule Rosenior faces, limiting time on the training ground. "With the big list of games we have, he's not going to have much time to get on the training pitch with the players and implement his style or his tactics," Terry noted, emphasising that results in the coming weeks are vital.
The former defender also highlighted the importance of the upcoming transfer window, hoping the owners and board would back Rosenior with funds. Terry concluded his message with a plea for calm: "Hopefully things settle down now and we can focus on the football. As all Chelsea fans, whoever the manager is and has been over the years, Chelsea fans will always back their manager."
Rosenior's move has also sparked anger at his former club, Strasbourg. Their fans' federation released a furious statement calling his transfer "another humiliating step in Racing's submission to Chelsea."
Rosenior's first match in charge will be Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Interim coach Calum MacFarlane will remain in the dugout for Wednesday's West London derby against Fulham.
