Liam Rosenior has insisted he will be the one making the key decisions at Chelsea, stating he would not have accepted the role if he doubted his ability to work within the club's structure. The 41-year-old, who has signed a six-and-a-half-year deal, takes charge of his first game when Chelsea visit Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday night.
Rosenior was appointed after Enzo Maresca left in acrimonious circumstances following a power battle with the Chelsea hierarchy. The former Derby and Hull boss arrives from Strasbourg, Chelsea's partner club, giving him an understanding of the setup. Despite Chelsea having five sporting directors and a strong medical department, Rosenior remains confident his view will carry weight.
“I don’t think it’s possible to ever be in this job and not be your own man,” Rosenior said. “People will see through you straight away. I will make the decisions at this football club. That’s why I’ve been brought in.” He added that being a head coach is about creating spirit and culture, not just tactics.
Rosenior acknowledged that Chelsea supporters have not warmed to recent managerial appointments under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, but urged fans to judge him on performances. “Everybody starts somewhere... Judge what you see on the pitch,” he said. A protest against the ownership is planned before next weekend's game against Brentford, but Rosenior noted similar situations at Strasbourg where fans eventually supported the team.
On the club's focus on young players, Rosenior cited Sir Alex Ferguson's willingness to blood youngsters at Manchester United. He stressed the project is about winning and hinted at future discussions regarding squad experience. “I’m the most accountable person to our performances,” he said. “But give us the chance.”
