Liam Rosenior has accused Arsenal of lacking respect for Chelsea after an incident during the warm-up before the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Television cameras captured the Chelsea head coach aiming a foul-mouthed outburst at an unidentified member of Arsenal staff for straying into the wrong half of the pitch at the Emirates Stadium.
Rosenior, 41, said on Thursday that there are 'certain etiquettes in football' to observe, explaining why he was so angered. 'It wasn’t the [Arsenal] players. I’m respectful. When you warm up, you have your half, the other team have their half. I’ve never asked my team or my coaches to encroach on the opposition’s territory,' he said. 'They were affecting my lads’ warm-up and my staff’s warm-up. So I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half.'
Rosenior stressed he had no issue with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whom he respects, but felt that in that moment respect was not shown. 'There are certain etiquettes in football. I always try to be as respectful as possible. I always want to win. I’ve never asked my coaches. I don’t have an issue with anyone at Arsenal Football Club. A fantastic manager, Mikel Arteta, I’ve got so much respect for. It was just in that moment, I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.'
Arsenal reached the final after a late Kai Havertz goal sealed a 4-2 aggregate win. Chelsea were criticised for their cautious approach but were without a host of key players. Rosenior confirmed that Cole Palmer is ready to play 90 minutes when Chelsea visit Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, while the availability of Pedro Neto and Reece James remains unclear. Jamie Gittens is sidelined with a torn hamstring.
