Following a promising start, Chelsea's performance under Liam Rosenior has taken a downturn, with the team plummeting to ninth place in the Premier League after a three-goal defeat to Manchester City. This loss, combined with their 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, raises concerns about the team's trajectory under Rosenior's guidance.
Despite initial successes, including four consecutive Premier League wins, Chelsea has only managed one victory in their last seven games, sparking worries among fans about the team's ability to secure a top-five finish. The contrast between Chelsea's performances against lesser teams and their struggles against top-tier opponents like Manchester City and PSG has been particularly striking, with Sky Sports' Paul Merson noting that 'when Chelsea play the big boys, they get beaten up.' While Rosenior has achieved impressive wins against Napoli and Aston Villa, the team's overall record under his leadership is eerily similar to that of his predecessor, Enzo Maresca.
With an average of 1.54 points per Premier League game, Chelsea's results have not significantly improved, and their chances of securing a Champions League spot seem increasingly slim. Rosenior has pointed out that even renowned managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to 'sort things out' at their respective clubs, but with only six Premier League games remaining, the pressure is mounting. The team's mental fragility, lack of experience, and disciplinary issues have all contributed to their struggles, and Rosenior faces an uphill battle to turn things around and convince fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.
Although underlying numbers, such as expected goals, suggest that Chelsea's performances have been better than their results indicate, the team's recent collapse against Manchester City has raised concerns about their ability to secure a top-five finish. With four points separating them from Liverpool and only six games left to play, Chelsea's outlook appears bleak, and Rosenior's position may be under threat if he fails to deliver the desired results.