Liam Rosenior had pointed out that Chelsea were fourth in the Premier League table since his appointment as head coach before their meeting with Manchester City. However, after the three-goal loss at Stamford Bridge, they dropped to ninth place in their 11 games under Rosenior. This recent slump, combined with their 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, raises concerns about the team's trajectory under Rosenior's guidance.
Chelsea's initial positivity under Rosenior, with four consecutive Premier League wins, has given way to only one win in seven games. The significant gap between Chelsea and top-tier teams like PSG and Manchester City has been highlighted, with Sky Sports' Paul Merson noting that Rosenior's team struggles against stronger opponents.
Despite some impressive wins, such as those against Napoli and Aston Villa, Chelsea's record under Rosenior is similar to that of his predecessor, Enzo Maresca. The team has averaged 1.54 points per Premier League game under Rosenior, which, although slightly better than before, is still the third-lowest average for a Chelsea manager since 2004.
This rate would result in a total of 57 points by the end of the season, which is only marginally better than Liverpool's current total and falls short of what is needed for a Champions League spot. Rosenior has reminded fans that even successful managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to establish themselves at their respective clubs.
However, with Chelsea's form trending downward and their mental fragility becoming more pronounced, fans are entitled to expect more from their team. The issue of ill-discipline has also persisted under Rosenior, with Chelsea receiving more cards than any other side since his first game in charge. As the season draws to a close, Chelsea's prospects for securing a Champions League finish look bleak, and Rosenior's position may become increasingly precarious.
While underlying numbers, such as expected goals, suggest that Chelsea's performances have been better than their results indicate, the recent collapse against Manchester City has heightened concerns about the team's ability to secure a top-five finish. With only six Premier League games remaining, Chelsea must dramatically improve their results to convince fans that Rosenior is the right person to lead the club forward.