Following Chelsea's recent loss to Manchester City, Liam Rosenior's position as head coach has come under scrutiny. Initially, Rosenior's tenure had shown promise, with the team winning their first four Premier League games under his guidance. However, they have since secured only one victory in seven matches, leading to concerns about their ability to secure a top-five finish. The team's three consecutive Premier League losses without scoring have intensified the pressure on Rosenior.
Their overall performance, including a disappointing 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, has raised questions about the team's trajectory under Rosenior's leadership. Despite some positive results, such as wins against Napoli and Aston Villa, the team's inability to perform against top-tier teams has been a significant concern. Rosenior's record, with an average of 1.54 points per Premier League game, is still one of the lowest for a Chelsea boss since 2004.
The worry is that unless Rosenior can oversee a significant improvement in results, the team may struggle to secure a Champions League spot. While Rosenior has pointed out that even experienced coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to establish themselves at their respective clubs, fans are entitled to expect more from their team. The issue of mental fragility, which has plagued the team throughout the season, has only become more pronounced under Rosenior.
The team's discipline has also been a concern, with red cards and suspensions affecting their performance. With only six Premier League games remaining, Chelsea's chances of securing a Champions League finish look bleak. However, there is some encouragement to be found in the underlying numbers, which suggest that Chelsea's performances under Rosenior have been better than their results indicate. According to expected goals, Chelsea's net expected goals in the three months since Rosenior's appointment are the second-highest among Premier League sides.
This suggests that the team has been creating better chances than they have conceded, and their performance has been better than their results indicate. Nevertheless, results are what matter most, especially at this point in the season. With three straight Premier League losses without scoring, Rosenior faces a significant challenge in convincing Chelsea fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.