When Liam Rosenior arrived at Chelsea, the membership had gained simply one in all their earlier 9 Premier League matches.
However the Englishman has began life with the Blues by securing again‑to‑again league victories.
Commercial
Objectives from Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez returning them to fourth place earlier than Arsenal hosted Manchester United in a while Sunday.
4 weeks in the past, there had been shock when former head coach Enzo Maresca left Chelsea after a falling out with the membership hierarchy. His alternative – the 41-year-old who joined from sister membership Strasbourg – has since steadied the ship.
Rosenior was within the stands for Chelsea’s final league defeat, a 2-1 loss to Fulham, having been appointed however not in time to take cost for that sport.
Since then, Chelsea have crushed Charlton within the FA Cup third spherical, misplaced at house to Arsenal within the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, crushed Brentford, Pafos within the Champions League and Crystal Palace.
Commercial
Neither Maresca nor Mauricio Pochettino gained their opening two league video games as Chelsea boss, with that feat final being achieved by Graham Potter.
With Potter finally disappointing throughout his tenure at Stamford Bridge, the comparability underlines that Rosenior shall be judged over an extended interval – a actuality of which he’s absolutely conscious.
“I am not serious about being relieved or how I am feeling,” Rosenior mentioned. “I am simply targeted on the job. That is actually, actually essential. We have one other big sport on Wednesday.”
Nonetheless, it is a constructive begin with Chelsea subsequent going through a visit to face Italian champions Napoli within the Champions League, earlier than welcoming West Ham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Commercial
Rosenior builds momentum with out reinventing wheel
Rosenior has undoubtedly kick‑began momentum with a beneficial run of fixtures that Chelsea have been largely anticipated to win.
Having arrived mid-season, and with two matches per week till a minimum of mid-February – and doubtlessly past if Chelsea fail to beat Napoli and are compelled right into a two‑legged Champions League play-off – there was and can proceed to be little time to work on the coaching pitch.
The Blues due to this fact nonetheless look stylistically much like the group constructed by Maresca. They favour a affected person, possession-based method, press excessive and arrange cautiously to stop opponents counter-attacking.
Commercial
Nonetheless, a key vulnerability stays: set-pieces. Since Rosenior joined Chelsea, all 5 objectives they’ve conceded have come from set-plays – one lengthy throw-in, one deep free-kick and three corners.
Rosenior has targeted on addressing different low-hanging fruit. He has inspired his squad – the youngest within the Premier League – to be extra aggressive, has labored on enhancing group spirit and has spoken to the gamers about their ill-discipline.
Chelsea nonetheless primarily line up in a 4-2-3-1, however there are indicators that, as together with his Strasbourg facet, they are going to grow to be extra tactically versatile. They adjusted their set-up to face Oliver Glasner’s distinctive 3-4-3 system at Palace.
Rosenior defined: “I feel in the present day was an enormous check. I modified the form of the play. It is arduous to clarify – it is like a semi-four or semi-five on the again with Andrey [Santos] in between.
Commercial
“For them to go and placed on, from a tactical perspective, the efficiency that they did in two days makes me very happy, as a result of just about 95% of the press and 95% of the positioning was completely good. They’re engaged.
“I feel they’re believing in what they’re doing. It is one sport. We’ve got to ensure we’re constant in each sport we play.”
Bettering fan temper shall be key
After the match, there was a constructive change between Rosenior and a few of the away followers, who seemed to be chanting his identify.
The London-born coach positioned a hand on his coronary heart and seemed visibly moved. When requested whether or not he’s already successful over supporters, he mentioned: “I hope so. I am very joyful to be right here. It is a incredible membership with incredible supporters.
Commercial
“As I mentioned, it is two-way. I’ve to earn that – I am conscious of that. Not simply me, however my employees, the gamers, the group, in our performances. And I hope that over time we’ll see that one thing good could occur right here.”
Nonetheless, there have been additionally anti-ownership chants – now a well-recognized characteristic of Chelsea matches, notably away from house.
Regardless of that unrest, the membership’s hierarchy, together with the homeowners and sporting administrators, have set excessive expectations for Rosenior and nonetheless demand Champions League qualification.
In Maresca’s exit assertion, they mentioned a change was wanted to provide “the group the very best probability of getting the season again on observe”.
It could be early days, however Rosenior has made an encouraging begin.