Rosenior insists he has ‘100%’ backing at Chelsea

Chelsea head coach, Liam Rosenior, says he feels “100%” support from the club’s ownership despite a run of four league defeats without a goal.

The 41-year-old replaced Enzo Maresca, who left on New Year’s Day, but Saturday’s home defeat by Manchester United has left Chelsea seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.

That leaves the Blues’ chances of Champions League qualification, the club’s minimum target at the start of the season, in major doubt.

Asked whether he feels he has support from within the club, Rosenior replied: “100%. They’ve been supportive of me in our daily conversations, the sporting directors involved; they’ve been magnificent in their support of the team and me.

“We’re relying on them. We know we need to win games of football in the now.”

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Last week, influential co-owner, Behdad Eghbali, said the hierarchy remains behind Rosenior, adding, “Of course, it’s a results business, but we think he can be successful long term.”

Eghbali also said Chelsea would target more experienced players in the summer and would “tweak the plan if it’s not working”, having built the youngest squad in the Premier League.

On the owner’s comments, Rosenior added, “He wants consistent trophies and consistent success for this club. That’s what we’ve spoken about – in the now, in the summer and how we build.

“We’re all very clear on what we need to do, what we want to do and what we have to do to get this club back to where it should be.”

After Saturday’s home defeat by Manchester United, footage went viral on social media of defender Wesley Fofana appearing to ignore attempts by first-team coach Justin Walker, one of Rosenior’s assistants, to speak to him.

Rosenior said the player had apologised for his reaction and the incident would not affect his selection for Tuesday’s trip to Brighton (20:00 BST).

“I’ve spoken to him about it, and he’s just disappointed that we’re losing the game.

“I do think he could have shown that emotion in a better way, and that’s something I’ve spoken to him about, but the optics are not the reality.

“The reality is, I’ve got a really good group. Wes apologised for his reaction, but these are young players who are going to make mistakes,” Rosenior said.

On Tuesday, Chelsea will be without Estevao Willian, who came off with a hamstring injury on Saturday, while striker Joao Pedro also remains a doubt and will have a late fitness test.

Defender Levi Colwill, who has been out with a long-term knee injury, returned in a behind-closed-doors match on Friday but remains unavailable and is set to play further minutes for Chelsea’s Under-21 side on Saturday.

(BBC)