Chelsea's head coach, Liam Rosenior, had pointed to the team's fourth-place standing in the Premier League before their meeting with Manchester City, but a three-goal defeat has dropped them to ninth. This loss, combined with their aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, raises concerns about the team's trajectory under Rosenior.
Despite a promising start with four consecutive Premier League wins, Chelsea have only secured one victory in their last seven games. The significant gap between Chelsea and top-tier teams was evident in their losses to Arsenal, PSG, and Manchester City. Sky Sports' Paul Merson noted that Rosenior's team struggles against stronger opponents.
While Rosenior has achieved notable wins against Napoli and Aston Villa, the recent loss to Manchester City has fueled pessimism among fans ahead of their match against Manchester United. Rosenior's task was to get Chelsea back on track after a tumultuous end to Enzo Maresca's tenure, but his record three months in is reminiscent of his predecessor's. Chelsea have averaged 1.54 points per game under Rosenior, slightly higher than the 1.48 points per game before his appointment, but still the third-lowest average for a Chelsea manager since 2004. This rate would result in a total of 57 points if maintained, which is only five points more than Liverpool's current total.
The worry is that Chelsea's form suggests they might not reach this target unless Rosenior can drastically improve results. Rosenior argued that even experienced coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to settle in at their respective clubs. However, fans expect more, especially given Chelsea's history of mental fragility, which has been exacerbated under Rosenior. The team has struggled with discipline, receiving more cards than any other side since Rosenior's first game.
With only six Premier League games remaining and four points behind Liverpool, Chelsea's prospects for a Champions League finish look bleak. If they fail to secure this, it could have negative implications for Rosenior. Despite recent setbacks, underlying numbers offer some encouragement, with Chelsea's expected goals indicating better performances than their results suggest.
In fact, their net expected goals since Rosenior's appointment are the second-highest in the Premier League, surpassing Manchester City and Liverpool. This metric is considered a strong predictor of future performance, suggesting that Chelsea have created better chances than they have conceded. However, results are paramount, especially at this stage of the season. After three consecutive Premier League losses without scoring, Rosenior faces significant pressure to convince fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.