Chelsea icon John Terry has issued a pointed piece of advice to the club's newly appointed head coach, Liam Rosenior, as he prepares for his first weeks in charge at Stamford Bridge.
A Warm Welcome with a Warning
Rosenior was officially unveiled on Tuesday as the successor to Enzo Maresca, following talks with the Chelsea board in London over the weekend. The former Strasbourg boss, who has signed a long-term contract until 2032, pledged to focus on 'teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for each other'.
However, in a video message on TikTok, former captain Terry was quick to outline what he believes must be the new manager's immediate priority. 'As a coach, you have the opportunity to walk into the building, everyone, the players, are going to be watching,' Terry stated. 'Undoubtedly, from a football point of view, it's all about results. But from a player's point of view, you have the opportunity to earn the respect of the players in those first meetings, in those first training sessions as well.'
Navigating a Divided Dressing Room
Terry's advice comes against a backdrop of a reportedly split Chelsea squad following Maresca's departure. It is noted that only eight first-team stars publicly bid farewell to the Italian coach, with key player Cole Palmer among the 15 who did not post a personalised tribute.
Questions have been raised over whether Rosenior's relatively modest managerial CV—featuring a stint at Championship side Hull City and work as an assistant at Derby County—will command the respect of a dressing room containing established names like Reece James and Palmer. Terry, however, expressed confidence, adding: 'He also has a lot of experience in that sense. So I hope he gets the players to respect him.'
The Immediate Challenges Ahead
Terry also highlighted the practical challenges facing Rosenior, with a packed fixture list offering little time for extensive tactical work 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, how he wants to play going forward in a short space of time,' Terry continued.
He stressed the importance of the board's support in the upcoming January transfer window, saying: 'Hopefully the owners and the board back him and give him some money to go into the market and bring some players in.' Terry concluded his message with a plea for calm, hinting at the internal discord that preceded Maresca's exit: 'Hopefully things settle down now and we can focus on the football.'
Fan Fury and Structural Concerns
The appointment has not been universally welcomed. Chelsea fan group 'Not a Project CFC' has planned protests against the club's hierarchy before the home match against Brentford on 17 January, criticising the club's model.
Furthermore, Rosenior's move has ignited fury among supporters of Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club owned by BlueCo. The Strasbourg Fans' Federation released a scathing statement, calling the manager's transfer 'another humiliating step in Racing's submission to Chelsea' and warning of structural threats to French club football.
Rosenior's first match in charge will be Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Caretaker manager Calum MacFarlane will remain in the dugout for Wednesday's West London derby against Fulham.
