Liam Rosenior had highlighted Chelsea's fourth-place position in the Premier League table since his appointment as head coach before their meeting with Manchester City on Sunday. However, after the three-goal defeat at Stamford Bridge, they dropped to ninth place in their 11 games under Rosenior.
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. Initially, his tenure started positively, with Chelsea winning his first four Premier League games against Brentford, Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Wolves. Nevertheless, they have only secured one win out of seven games since then.
The gap between Chelsea and top-tier teams was further emphasized by their defeats to PSG and Manchester City. Despite some impressive wins, such as those against Napoli and Aston Villa, Rosenior's record after three months is strikingly similar to that of his predecessor. Chelsea have averaged 1.54 points per Premier League game under Rosenior, which, although slightly better than the 1.48 points per game previously, is still the third-lowest average for a Chelsea boss since 2004.
This rate is insufficient to secure a Champions League spot, and if maintained, would result in a mere 57 points by the end of the season. Rosenior faces significant pressure to improve results, particularly with the visit of Manchester United looming. While he has pointed out that even renowned coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to establish themselves, the current trajectory of the team's form is a cause for concern. The 41-year-old coach is not responsible for the recruitment issues that have left the squad lacking experience and leadership, nor the consequences of the extensive football they played in the Club World Cup.
However, fans are entitled to expect more from the team. Chelsea's mental fragility is not a new issue, having lost 15 points from winning positions under the previous coach.
This problem has only intensified under Rosenior, with the team struggling to maintain leads and discipline. Since Rosenior's first game in charge, Chelsea have received more cards than any other side, and incidents like Enzo Fernandez's internal suspension have further highlighted the issue of ill-discipline. With only six Premier League games remaining and four points behind Liverpool, Chelsea's prospects for a Champions League finish appear bleak. Although recent results have been damaging, the underlying numbers offer some encouragement.
According to expected goals, Chelsea's Premier League performances under Rosenior have been significantly better than earlier in the campaign, with their net expected goals being the second-highest among Premier League teams. This suggests that the team has created better chances than they have conceded, outperforming Manchester City and Liverpool in this regard. While results are crucial, especially at this stage of the season, Rosenior faces a challenging task in convincing Chelsea fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.