Liam Rosenior's tenure as Chelsea manager has quickly become one of the most discussed topics in the Premier League. His innovative approach to the game and successful start at Stamford Bridge have caught everyone's attention, including that of Gary Lineker.
Rosenior has made a significant impact since his appointment as Chelsea manager. His successful run has even earned him a nomination for the Premier League's Manager of the Month award for January. This recognition is testament to his effective management style and strategic prowess on the field.
However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for Rosenior. The EFL Cup semi-final tie against Arsenal saw Chelsea lose both ties, leading to criticism of Rosenior’s tactics in the second leg.
Unique tactics draw attention
Despite being a goal down in this tie, Rosenior introduced several unique approaches to try and turn things around. One such tactic was how they set up to defend corners against Arsenal - an area where Arsenal had shown strength throughout this season.
Rosenior instructed three defenders to leave their box just before each corner was taken - an unconventional move that caught many by surprise. Renowned footballer Gary Lineker described this approach as 'quite clever', highlighting its potential effectiveness despite its novelty.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
“Arsenal, as we know, are brilliant from set pieces and he (Rosenior) did an interesting tactic from corners. I mean, I’ve seen it done before, but whenever they conceded a corner, Chelsea would put three players on the halfway line and create meant obviously that Arsenal had to go back.
“Funnily enough, I remember trying the very same thing. We did it in training with Terry Venables at Barcelona. He did it way more. He put five up. He said, “Let’s see what they do now.” We tried it in training all week and by the end of the week he went, “Not sure. Let’s not do it.’ But Rosenior did it.
“I mean it’s nothing new, but it’s an interesting tactic I think particularly against Arsenal because they crowd your goalkeeper and it means you can’t really do that because you can’t immediately Arsenal put three well they have to put four back because you always need one more behind. So I thought it was you know he’s obviously trying to think things through on that and I think that’s quite a clever way of defending against Arsenal.”
Pressure builds ahead of Wolves match
Despite his impressive start outside of the EFL Cup fixture, pressure continues to mount on Rosenior ahead of their match against Wolves. Despite winning every single game in Premier League so far under his leadership, there is still risk that Blues could drop out from Champions League spots if they lose their upcoming match on Saturday. Rosenior is well aware that he will be judged based on whether he finishes in top five or not; thus majority of his focus remains on achieving this target.
The upcoming weekend match against Wolves presents another challenge for Chelsea under Roseniors' leadership. Wolves currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League, but in football, there are no guarantees.
Liam Rosenior's start as Chelsea manager has been a blend of success and challenges. His innovative tactics have drawn both praise and criticism, but his focus remains on securing a top-five finish for Chelsea. As he prepares to face Wolves this weekend, all eyes will be on Stamford Bridge to see how Rosenior's strategies play out on the field.
