Liam Rosenior rant in full as Chelsea boss rages at players after 'unacceptable' Brighton defeat

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·21 de abril de 2026

Liam Rosenior rant in full as Chelsea boss rages at players after 'unacceptable' Brighton defeat

Blues head coach did not mince words as his side slumped to a dismal defeat on the south coast

Liam Rosenior came out swinging in an extraordinary post-match interview following Chelsea’s dour 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Tuesday night.

Vídeos OneFootball

The Blues’ head coach wasn’t afraid to criticise his players after they fell to a seventh defeat in eight games in all competitions and a fifth in succession in the Premier League.

After the game, he explained why their “indefensible” performance left him feeling “numb”.

Journalist: Was it the worst result of the lot?

Liam Rosenior: "By far. By far. That as unacceptable in every aspect of the game. Unacceptable in attitude. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now."

J: What have you said to the players? Why do you think they put that performance in?

LR: “Why? We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can't keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we're seeing. Manchester United, genuinely the result wasn't there but I felt we turned a corner. But the general attitude, spirit was lacking [tonight], determination from three or four of the starting XI. That's nowhere near enough for this club. I can't come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance in every area."

J: The start looked particularly difficult and the warning signs were there even before the goal.

LR: “The first goal was terrible. We had an easy header and missed the header. The passage before the goal upset me even more. We had four or five occasions to show some more courage and quality and take the ball down and play. We just kicked the ball back to Brighton.

“You can speak about a lack of confidence, or results not going our way. That doesn't represent anything that I want to see, and I won't ever see it again."

J: Does it feel like a lack of professionalism then?

LR: “The performance in terms of professionalism wasn't there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night - not even here at this magnificent football club - but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I never ever want to ever see again.”

J: And the fact it never got better, was that equally concerning? There was a little patch at the start of the second half, but were they throwing the towel in to some degree?

LR: "You have to ask the players. If you're playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That's all I'm going to say. I'm hurting, I'm feeling numb. Because that doesn't represent me. That doesn't represent the football club in anyway. That has to change, starting with the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday."

J: The distances covered have been second best in every single Premier League game, going back before your time at the club. Is that a sign of a decent malaise?

LR: “I don't want to go into that right now. I have my own thoughts, my own feelings. I have discussed in depth about this football club - regardless of who is the manager - about what needs to happen at this football club for it to be where it needs to be. It's about this football club, Chelsea represents fight, spirit and determination. That was lacking in every department this evening.”

J: And on injuries, going back before your time…

LR: “We've had injuries. It's not an excuse, it's a reality. That teams we put out today was far better than its engagement in the game. I will pick a team that will represent the club in the correct manner.”

J: Does Sunday become a huge game now? You risk slipping out of the European places. Does the entire season come down to the FA Cup?

LR: “This was a huge game and we didn't hit anywhere near the mark. Every game between now and the end of the season is a huge game, and it needs to look like that in the way we play.”

J: What can be done between now and Sunday. It looks a squad bereft of ideas in that sense and effort.