Liam Rosenior is confident he will make the decisions at Chelsea, insisting he would not have agreed to take over as head coach if he doubted his ability to work within the club's structure. The 41-year-old takes charge of his first game when Chelsea visit Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday night, having been appointed after Enzo Maresca left in acrimonious circumstances.
Rosenior, who has signed a six-and-a-half-year deal, joined from Strasbourg, Chelsea's partner club, and is aware of the need to manage upwards. Despite Chelsea's team of five sporting directors and the importance given to the medical department's advice, he believes his view on key decisions will carry significant weight. 'I will make the decisions at this football club. That's why I've been brought in,' he said.
Rosenior played down the distinction between a manager and a head coach, saying tactics account for only ten per cent of the job. 'The job is to create spirit, energy, a culture. It doesn't matter if you're called a head coach, manager or anything else.' He also acknowledged the challenge of winning over Chelsea supporters, who have not warmed to managers hired since the takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
'Everybody starts somewhere. You're not a name until you become a name. Judge what you see on the pitch,' Rosenior said. He pointed to his experience at Strasbourg, where he ultimately won over fans, and referenced Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in young players at Manchester United as he defended Chelsea's focus on youth. 'The project is about winning,' he added.
