Liam Rosenior ‘Critical’ Chelsea Mission is Unforgiving But He Needs to Make it Work | OneFootball

There has been some sympathy towards Liam Rosenior. Not only because he comes across as a good-faith person with ambition, but also due to the environment he has walked into.

Into the Lion’s Den

Wednesday night painted a fairer picture of the brutal challenges he faces as Chelsea’s new coach. Within 20 minutes of kick-off, a section of his new supporters were vocally airing their frustrations at his style of play. Robert Sánchez, not famed for his short passing, caused nerves to ripple around the ground.

Although a depleted Chelsea found two goals against Arsenal to keep the semi-final somewhat alive, it was still a loss on his Stamford Bridge debut. The record for Chelsea is now just three wins in their last 13 games, two of those coming against EFL opposition (Cardiff and Charlton).

Rosenior may have the toughest task of all the coaches appointed by this regime because he inherits the most baggage from before. To expect supporters to wipe their minds clean is simply unrealistic. Trust has faded, irritations have grown, and the tolerance for patience has all but evaporated.

It is not just supporters banging at the door; it is also Rosenior’s higher-ups, who have already briefed that qualifying for the Champions League is critical. That may explain why Rosenior did not risk some key players against Arsenal. It may also reflect why the club are pushing forward summer transfer plans into the present.

A protest is planned outside the Bridge on Saturday afternoon before a must-win league game against Brentford. Should Saturday not end in victory, it is hard to see how apathy is held back any longer.

Mission: Impossible

This is not a pleasant environment for a new coach to walk into. He needs to inject a sense of momentum, unity and energy into a season that is dwindling. But for whatever sympathy you may have for Rosenior, my mind echoes the voice of Angela Bassett in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Speaking to Alec Baldwin’s Secretary Hunley in front of a comically large CIA jet, the pair exchange words about a predictably cataclysmic scenario. Baldwin, with Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt behind him, pleads for some sympathy over why Hunt’s team lost a potentially world-ending chemical to the bad guys.

“His team would be dead.”Bassett’s Erika Sloane simply retorts: “Yes. That’s the job.”

Brewing fan revolt? “Yes. That’s the job.”An uneven squad? “Yes. That’s the job.”Demands to win yesterday? “Yes. That’s the job.”An unrelenting fixture schedule? “Yes. That’s the job.”

Being Chelsea head coach is, in some ways, like performing the high-wire daredevil stunts Cruise pushes to more ludicrous heights in every Mission film. Rosenior is on a flimsy tightrope. Champions League qualification sits at the end of it. Below is a sea of piranhas in an electrified tank, and the timer is running down.

Of course, “death” for Rosenior would be a healthy payout and a summer vacation to the Bahamas. But right now, he needs to find a way across that rope without disaster.

You can follow my coverage of Chelsea on YouTube at SonOfChelsea. More written coverage of the club on Substack. Follow me on X for more thoughts, along with listening to the podcast.