Chelsea defender rallies for under fire coach | OneFootball

Gusto backs Rosenior as Chelsea search for stability

Chelsea’s season has drifted into uncertain territory, yet within the dressing room there remains a firm sense of unity behind Liam Rosenior. Malo Gusto has emerged as one of the most vocal supporters of the new head coach, offering a measured defence at a time when external scrutiny has intensified.

Rosenior’s appointment in January raised eyebrows. It followed the abrupt dismissal of Enzo Maresca, a decision that puzzled many given the silverware secured earlier in the campaign. Since then, results have fluctuated, and the noise around Stamford Bridge has grown louder. For Gusto, however, the debate appears detached from the reality experienced on the training pitch.

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He told ESPN: “I think he [Rosenior] is a top coach, I saw that a lot of people criticised him.

“Not really [understanding why he is being criticised so much] I have worked with him a lot since he joined Chelsea.

“I think he is a top person first of all, a top manager as well and as you say, he is young.

“He is a lot of things for the future, but if he is the Chelsea manager it is because he has the talent for this.”

Early promise fades amid Chelsea slump

Rosenior’s early weeks offered encouragement. A composed victory away at Atalanta hinted at tactical clarity, while a spirited comeback from 2-0 down to defeat West Ham 3-2 showed character within the squad. Those moments suggested that Chelsea had found momentum under new leadership.

Yet football rarely allows for a smooth narrative. A damaging sequence of results has since reshaped the mood. A 3-0 defeat to Everton before the international break compounded concerns, following an 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle. Four consecutive defeats have pulled Chelsea down the table and sharpened questions around Rosenior’s suitability.

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From outside, the criticism has been swift. Inside the squad, the tone remains more patient. Gusto’s comments reflect a group still committed to the direction set by their manager.

Dressing room belief in Rosenior remains strong

The French defender’s backing goes beyond tactical appreciation. His words paint a picture of a coach whose influence extends into the human side of the game, something often overlooked when results turn.

He said: “As I said before, for us as a team, we have to believe in him, believe in the way we play, to stick to our plan and see how it goes.

“He is a good person, he is really honest, really simple, you can see that he is really passionate.

“He wants to share it with us his passion for football and I feel like I want to play for him, I want to show my best when he puts me on the pitch.”

That sense of connection can be vital during difficult periods. Chelsea’s squad is youthful, still developing, and susceptible to fluctuations in confidence. In such circumstances, clarity of message and consistency of approach often matter as much as immediate results.

Maresca exit and impact on Chelsea squad

Context is also important when assessing Chelsea’s recent struggles. The mid season departure of Maresca disrupted a side that had begun to build coherence. Transition, particularly in a young squad, rarely comes without complications.

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Gusto acknowledged that reality with a candid reflection on the adjustment required.

He said: “It was a bit complicated for us in the middle of the season when Enzo Maresca was sacked. “So a new coach coming in now, it was a big change I think for the team, everyone was surprised to be honest.

“But in football that can happen, so we had to adapt.

“That is what we tried to do, before the international break it was a tough few weeks for us in terms of results because that is not what we expected.

“Against PSG, there were a few games in the Premier League against Newcastle and Everton as well that we lost.

“It is a bit hard [changing system], when you start to understand one and then right away you have to change to another one, it is maybe a little bit more [difficult] for us because we have a little less experience.

“A lot of us are young but we have quality to deal with this but we just have to trust the process and do our best to put Chelsea where it is supposed to be.”

Those words underline the broader challenge facing Chelsea. This is a project still in flux, shaped by change both on and off the pitch. Rosenior’s task is to stabilise performances while nurturing a group still learning its identity.

For now, at least, Gusto’s defence offers insight into a dressing room that has not lost faith. Results will ultimately determine the narrative, but within Cobham there remains a belief that Rosenior can guide Chelsea through this difficult phase.