Is Winning the Goal? Ex-Chelsea Striker Questions Rosenior’s Appointment as a Sign of Limited Ambition
Former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton has raised doubts about the decision to appoint Liam Rosenior as the new head coach for the Blues.
Rosenior was announced for the position earlier today, having signed a six-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge to take over from Enzo Maresca, who was dismissed last week.
At 41, Rosenior has a fairly unremarkable coaching history, with his top achievements being a seventh-place finish in the Championship with Hull City and seventh in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg.
Sutton argues that the choice made by BlueCo, owners of both Chelsea and Strasbourg, to select the ex-Fulham and Reading defender signifies a deficiency in ambition.
‘What kind of club is Chelsea?’
He shared his views on the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I hope this decision doesn’t overwhelm him and negatively impact his coaching journey.
“He’s a very intelligent individual, but one thing I can’t comprehend about Chelsea is the identity of the club. What do they really aim to accomplish? Are they aiming for victories?
“They will claim, of course, that winning is their goal, but there was always this impression—regardless of opinions on the Roman Abramovich era—that they were serious about competition.
“However, I don’t sense the same kind of energy from this current Chelsea group under the new ownership.”
Nevin Supports Rosenior’s Appointment
Sutton’s doubts are not echoed by former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, who feels that Rosenior’s insight into the club’s ownership dynamics might be beneficial.
Nevin remarked: “In recent times, Chelsea has seen managers like Mauricio Pochettino, Frank Lampard, Graham Potter, and Thomas Tuchel, all of whom are accomplished figures in the field. Liam Rosenior comes in with less experience, knowing the stakes; if he falters, he’s gone.
“Why not take a chance on him? It’s also worth noting that we might be in a transitional period in football, where clubs are keen on a higher level of oversight, and one can understand their perspective. Why not? These owners are investing significant funds. But once the manager starts to succeed or raises expectations, we witness the repercussions.
“Perhaps Rosenior, coming from within the Chelsea ecosystem with ties to Strasbourg, understands the situation. If he grasps the arrangement and is ready to work under such terms long-term, then his future depends on his success.”
Rosenior will observe from the stands as fifth-placed Chelsea faces neighbours Fulham tomorrow night. His inaugural match in charge will be the FA Cup third-round clash against Charlton on Saturday.
Published: 2026-01-06 12:56:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
