Football writer Sam Cunningham looks at how Liam Rosenior fared in his first match as Chelsea head coach, as the Blues comfortably dispatched Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.
Slotting into the system
Rosenior played a formation and style that will be familiar to Chelsea fans, keeping with the identity the club’s owners want at the club.
It meant it was all very similar to how the team played under Enzo Maresca, the previous head, in the FA Cup game against Charlton.
A 4-2-3-1 without the ball switching to a 3-4-3 in attack. Jorrel Hato, the left-back, shifted into attacking midfield when they had the ball, the team building up with three at the back giving them plenty of bodies around the opposition penalty area.
Chelsea dominated possession with lots of short passes popped around the pitch, although it took them until first-half stoppage time to break a deep-lying Charlton side down.
It was Hato who scored the first goal of the Rosenior era – taking his time to arrow in a fantastic finish on the half-volley from just inside the area.
The goal was, in truth, deserved reward for a controlled first half, in which they had 78 per cent possession and produced 11 shots, with six on target.
Six of the efforts were from outside the box, showing they were not afraid to have a go from distance. Although some frustrations started creeping in before the goal arrived – again, a familiar feeling in recent months at the club.
The second goal looked as though it had come from the training ground: a wonderful Facundo Buonanotte free-kick headed in by Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea’s young side even responded well after Charlton pulled a goal back. It could easily have spread doubt among them, but Marc Guiu restored the two-goal cushion five minutes later.
Confident risk taker
For a head coach who said in his first Chelsea press conference that he wanted to start with a win and build momentum, Rosenior was bold to start the match with a second-string line-up, making eight changes to the side that lost to Fulham in the Premier League in midweek.
“I’ve said to the players to focus on winning the next game and winning the next game and winning the next game,” Rosenior said in the press conference. “That’s how you go on a run.”
Chelsea have a packed schedule coming up – playing weekends and midweeks for the foreseeable future – but Rosenior would have been forgiven for going with a strong starting team to get his Chelsea career underway before making changes later in the game.
Contrast to Pep Guardiola, for example, who fielded an almost full-strength side against League One Exeter City at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup on Saturday.
But Rosenior’s approach was fully justified by the result.
When he brought on the first-team regulars in the second half, the gulf between the two sides became much clearer as fog descended on the stadium.
Enzo Fernandez, Estevao and Liam Delap came on and Chelsea overwhelmed Charlton in the final 20 minutes. The scoreline would have been far more favourable had Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion not made several sharp saves.
But they made a breakthrough when Pedro Neto, who came off the bench with five minutes remaining, fired a fourth into the bottom corner before Fernandez scored a penalty with the last kick of the game.
Defence needs fixing
There were, however, familiar problems in defence.
This was the seventh game in succession Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet. In fact, they have kept only two in 12 matches. It is a problem Rosenior will need to address.
And Charlton scored from a set-piece, in what will be a frustration for Rosenior. Chelsea’s players did not react fast enough to clear the second ball after Filip Jorgensen, the Chelsea goalkeeper, made a great initial save.
It allowed Miles Leaburn, who came through Chelsea’s academy, to thrash the ball past Jorgensen.
Touchline emotion
Rosenior comes across as a cool, calm, confident character off the field, but he did not hide his emotions on it.
He was unafraid to show his frustrations when attacks broke down or players picked the wrong options – especially before they opened the scoring.
Fans saw the multiple sides of Rosenior in his dugout, from celebrating goals with relaxed handshakes with his backroom staff to letting his emotions spill out, hurling his hands behind his head when they came close with efforts.