Chelsea's head coach, Liam Rosenior, had pointed to the team's fourth-place standing in the Premier League as a positive sign prior to their match against Manchester City. However, after a three-goal defeat, they slipped to ninth place in the 11 games under Rosenior's guidance. This loss, combined with their aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, raises concerns about the team's trajectory.
Despite a promising start with four consecutive Premier League wins, Chelsea have only managed one victory in their last seven games. The 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 initial success was followed by struggles against stronger opponents.
While Rosenior has achieved impressive wins against Napoli and Aston Villa, the recent loss to Manchester City has fueled supporters' pessimism ahead of the upcoming 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, shows a similar pattern. Chelsea have averaged 1.54 points per game under Rosenior, a slight increase from the previous season but still the third-lowest average for a Chelsea manager since 2004. This rate would result in a total of 57 points, barely surpassing Liverpool's current total, and falls short of the required points for a Champions League spot.
Rosenior argued that even renowned coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed time to establish themselves at their respective clubs. However, with 11 Premier League games into his tenure, the pressure is mounting. Factors such as the squad's inexperience, leadership vacuum, and the aftermath of the Club World Cup have contributed to the challenges.
Nevertheless, fans expect more from the team. Chelsea's mental fragility, evident in their tendency to surrender leads, has persisted under Rosenior. The team's discipline issues, including red cards and suspensions, have also been a concern. With only six Premier League games remaining, Chelsea's prospects for a Champions League finish appear bleak.
Although recent results have been disappointing, the underlying numbers suggest that Chelsea's performances under Rosenior have been better than their results indicate, with a high expected goal differential. This metric, considered a strong predictor of future performance, shows that Chelsea have created superior chances compared to their opponents, outpacing Manchester City and Liverpool. However, the trend has been downward since the loss to Newcastle.
Ultimately, results are paramount, especially at this critical juncture in the season. Rosenior faces an uphill task in convincing Chelsea fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.