Liam Rosenior insists the Chelsea board is in agreement and backs him “100 per cent” despite picking up just one win in seven games. The Blues are seven points clear of the Champions League places and will face a crucial Premier League game at Brighton on Tuesday as they look to avoid falling further behind in the race for European qualification.
Chelsea lost 1-0 to Manchester United, trailing by 10 points, and Matheus Cunha’s single-handed run sealed their fourth straight league defeat. His failure to find the back of the net against the Red Devils was an unwelcome record for the former Hull and Strasbourg manager. For the first time in over 28 years, this Chelsea team has failed to score in four consecutive league games.
The enthusiasm for Rosenior, who only took over from Enzo Maresca at the beginning of January, is high. Chelsea got off to an encouraging start at Stamford Bridge, with Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Everton, Sunderland and Fulham in hot pursuit of a place in Europe next season.
If the Seagulls win, the Londoners will drop to seventh place and only qualify for the Europa Conference League. But the 41-year-old insists the club’s hierarchy remain firmly in his corner and keep a lid on their private conversations.
He said: “100 percent. They support me in daily conversations. We are united and we know that we need to win football matches now.”
Chelsea will return to Premier League action just days after losing at home to Manchester United, while the Blues will also face Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Rosenior stopped short of calling the trip to the south coast a must-win, but acknowledged there was an urgent need to improve on their performance.
“We have been very difficult for ourselves, we have to be honest,” he added. “We need to go to Brighton with similar qualities to Man United in terms of energy and application. We need to be more clinical and more ruthless in both boxes.
“As a coach, you have to work on the data and the process because you believe that your process will work out in the end. We need to win football games and that’s what this club demands.
“We will deal with each situation accordingly. It’s a difficult task but we have to focus on beating a very good Brighton team.”
Rosenior also confirmed that Estevao will be ruled out of the game, while João Pedro’s decision will be delayed. However, Enzo Fernandes is fit to play.
