Chelsea's head coach, Liam Rosenior, had highlighted the team's fourth-place position in the Premier League table prior to their match against Manchester City. However, after a three-goal defeat at Stamford Bridge, they dropped to ninth place in the 11 games under Rosenior, with a third consecutive Premier League loss without scoring. This has increased the pressure ahead of their upcoming game against Manchester United. Considering their 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Chelsea has suffered five losses in six games across all competitions, making their quest for a top-five finish increasingly challenging.
Rosenior's tenure began on a positive note, with Chelsea winning their first four Premier League games under his leadership, but they have only secured one win in the subsequent seven games. The gap between Chelsea and top-tier teams was evident in their losses to PSG and Manchester City. Paul Merson of Sky Sports noted, 'Rosenior started well but struggles when facing top teams.' Despite impressive wins against Napoli and Aston Villa, Rosenior's record after three months is similar to his predecessor's.
Chelsea has averaged 1.54 points per Premier League game under Rosenior, a slight increase from the previous average but still the third-lowest for a Chelsea manager since 2004. This average is insufficient to secure a Champions League spot, and if maintained, Chelsea would finish with just 57 points, only five points above Liverpool's current total. Rosenior pointed out that even Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp needed a year to establish themselves at Manchester City and Liverpool. However, with 11 Premier League games into his tenure, the 41-year-old faces significant challenges, including a squad lacking experience and leadership, and the consequences of a packed football schedule.
Fans are entitled to expect more, and Chelsea's mental fragility, which led to lost points from winning positions under the previous coach, has become more pronounced under Rosenior. The team has struggled with ill-discipline, receiving more cards than any other side since Rosenior's first game.
Four points behind Liverpool with only six games remaining, Chelsea's prospects for a Champions League finish appear dim. Although recent results have been damaging, Chelsea's underlying performances under Rosenior have been better than earlier in the campaign, according to expected goals. Their net expected goals in the three months since Rosenior's appointment are the second-highest among Premier League teams, indicating they have created superior chances.
This trend, however, has declined since the loss to Newcastle. With much at stake, Rosenior faces significant challenges to convince Chelsea fans that he is the right person to lead the club forward.