Can Rosenior crack it as Chelsea frontman?

The inexperienced new Blues boss will have to work with the powers behind the scenes to have any chance of success.

- Dom Smith

The Inside Track

Doing things differently was not a New Year's resolution for the Chelsea hierarchy. They may have a new head coach in Liam Rosenior, but otherwise it’s very much as you were. The BlueCo project ploughs on undiverted.

Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year's Day came after his relationship with his bosses soured. It came just 20 days after he'd been named Premier League manager of month for November, but “head coach of the month” might have been more appropriate, given the dilution of the head coach’s role explained the power struggle that spelt the end of his reign.

The BlueCo consortium own Strasbourg as well as Chelsea and have appointed Rosenior, the French club’s English head coach, as Maresca’s replacement. Articulate but unproven, it’s a big step up for the 41-year-old, whose first Chelsea match comes on Saturday against Charlton in the FA Cup after watching the 2-1 defeat away to Fulham from the stands on Wednesday.

Maresca improved Chelsea, the Conference League and Club World Cup both won during his 18-month tenure and the first silverware of the BlueCo era. But fans are not all supportive of the owners. Many fear riding the wave of Champions League revenue to be the limit of their ambition.

After almost £1.5 billion of transfer spending since 2022, are Chelsea any closer to adding a third European crown, or winning the Premier League again? A “very good” turnout is expected at a fan protest before the Brentford game on January 17. Has Rosenior walked into the job too early to succeed? He needs fans onside early.

Method to the madness