Rosenior aiming to unlock Chelsea's potential
A new era begins at Chelsea this weekend, with Liam Rosenior preparing for his first game in charge against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
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Former Strasbourg boss Rosenior was appointed as Enzo Maresca's successor on Wednesday (AEDT), putting pen to paper on a six-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The 41-year-old watched on from the stands in midweek as Chelsea under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane oversaw a 2-1 defeat to west-London rival Fulham in the Premier League.
Chelsea has won just one of its past nine Premier League games, drawing five and losing three of the others, and sits eighth on the table, but it is only four points adrift of Liverpool, which occupies in the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Rosenior's first game in charge of his new team comes in the third round of the FA Cup, with a trip across the capital to face Charlton Athletic.
"I've said to the players, focus on winning the next game. That's how we go on a run," Rosenior said.
"The talent we have, the engagement to something new, there's really positive signs. The potential for this club is limitless, and I won't limit limitlessness.
"It's a tough run, it's a tough league. We aren't the only club that'll go through difficult periods; every club does.
"Sometimes a different voice helps, but we aren't far away and that's really important for the players to know."
Rosenior was, however, under no illusions about the task before him, describing it as an "enormous job" given the turnover of coaches at Chelsea in recent years.
Since BlueCo took over Chelsea in 2022, Rosenior has become the fifth permanent boss under its ownership, after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca.
"I think the turnover of managers now is huge. The pressure is there from day one and if I wasn't willing to take on that pressure and privilege I wouldn't be here," Rosenior said.
"I am looking forward to it. I can't wait for tomorrow night. The players and staff have been nothing but supportive and made me feel at home.
"If you are scared or fearful, there is no point being a coach. I am going to work 24 hours a day. I am going to push them to try and be successful."
After winning the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup under Maresca, Chelsea is in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, where it will face Arsenal over two legs.
It begins its FA Cup journey at The Valley, a competition it has won eight times, but it has not held the title since 2017-2018 under then-boss Antonio Conte.
Rosenior was asked whether he was prioritising any competitions, with the club also 13th in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
"We want to try and win every game we play. If you start pinpointing and saying one competition is more important than the other, then that is crazy," Rosenior said.
"You have to try and win every game and if you think too far ahead you fall. We just have to focus on the here and now."
