Manager Liam Rosenier faces an uncertain future at Chelsea after overseeing Chelsea’s worst league result in over 100 years, but Stamford Bridge’s problems run deeper
Liam Rosenior watched Chelsea lose 3-0 to Brighton on Tuesday night (Image: Darren Walsh, Chelsea FC, Getty Images)
Chelsea’s problems run much deeper than Liam Rosenior. And firing yet another manager simply shifted the blame and avoided facing an uncomfortable truth.
Rosenior has been appointed as Stamford Bridge’s latest autumn recruit, having only been appointed for just over 100 days on January 6. Sadly, it felt inevitable that Chelsea would pull the trigger after he publicly abused Brighton’s players, resulting in a fifth successive league defeat without a goal.
But in reality, this had to be said. That’s because everyone can see that this late-season turmoil is not just the manager’s fault, but also the players and ownership.
Let’s be clear: the club assembled a team that lacked leadership and character, and bought them because they were salable assets. That’s the way Chelsea are run now. We are a business, not a football club, and unfortunately the results are only collateral damage.
read more: Chelsea’s injury nightmare worsens, potentially ending star player’s World Cup hopesread more: Liam Rosenier’s job is in the balance with Chelsea players furious over public abuse
They prefer young players because they can be sold for a profit, but that means they lack experience and are likely to struggle when the going gets tough.
It has become very difficult now. They seem at risk of missing out on a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, but once again the dressing room rules the roost.
As Rosenior said, they fired another manager when they had to look at themselves in the mirror.
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Egbali was at the Amex when he heard the outcry against the club and hierarchy. And the billionaire was at the club’s training ground on Wednesday as executives debated whether to make changes. It was a difficult decision and the meeting at Cobham lasted for a long day as yet another manager was brought in. Chelsea spat on me. He was considered a prospect just three months ago and now meets the requirements.
Chelsea decided to go down this path with a young manager in-house – he was managing sister club Strasbourg – and perhaps now it is time to realize that a complete change of direction is needed.
Rosenior has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks (Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
They are rolling the dice with manager Callum Macfarlane until the end of the season, with former youth team manager Callum Macfarlane promoted back to first-team duties and looking to spark a turnaround in the league and win Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds.
Chelsea should take this opportunity to look at the players and characters they represent at home, especially for the fans in the shirt. Some of them are not suitable to wear that shirt. This is not the time for fans to sing “We want our Chelsea back”.
It’s about leadership and character. Enzo Fernandes missed two games due to an affair with Real Madrid. It will be a perfect example. But firing him will definitely only hurt the team.
Levi Colwill is arguably the club’s best centre-half, but he has been sidelined with injury. They have spent over £1 billion and still have an error-prone keeper in goal, Roberto Sanchez. Let me tell you, he’s not a forward, so there’s not much to sell.
Chelsea has become a business that buys and sells players, rather than a serious football club that wants to build a team for success.
Look at the injured list now. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were absent from Brighton. Colwill missed most of the season. Romeo Lavia has spent most of his time at Chelsea on the treatment table.
Chelsea have fallen well short of expectations this season (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
The reason for injuries must be the Club World Cup and the never-ending season, but why do so many players get injured? Is the team well managed?
They sign long-term contracts to sell players. The model is very clear: a young player who can develop and gain value. But the lack of leadership, senior figures and greats is evident.
That’s what’s disappointing Chelsea. Not Rosenia. Perhaps that’s why the manager spoke up. To challenge the players on the pitch.
This is the club that sacked Enzo Maresca after winning the Club World Cup, returning to the Champions League and winning the European trophy.
It set an impossible standard. However, they knew that appointing Rosenior and then firing him now was a failure on the part of the club rather than Rosenior himself.
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