Can Liam Rosenior prove his growing band of detractors wrong heading into crunch Champions League showdown with PSG?

Liam Rosenior made an encouraging start to his Chelsea tenure, but the pressure is now beginning to mount amid a faltering run of form.

The Blues have slipped to sixth in the Premier League table and suffered a thumping 5-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Ahead of tonight’s Last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall examines how Rosenior is coming under increasing scrutiny.

Promising early signs

Eyebrows were raised when Chelsea turned to Rosenior, then in charge of Strasbourg, after parting company with Enzo Maresca in early January.

Rosenior, 41, was handed a six-and-a-half-year deal by the BlueCo investment group, who own Strasbourg and Chelsea.

His previous job in English football management ended in the sack at Hull City after they failed to make the Championship play-offs during the 2023-24 campaign.

Nevertheless, Rosenior impressed during his time in France, and he hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, winning eight of his first 11 matches in charge.

Among those victories was a 3-2 win at Napoli, which automatically booked Chelsea’s place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

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Growing inconsistency in Premier League form

Chelsea’s league form began to dip towards the end of last month when they were held at home by Leeds United and Burnley, two newly-promoted sides.

Then came a 2-1 defeat at title-chasing Arsenal – Rosenior’s third loss against Mikel Arteta’s side since arriving at Chelsea.

Although the Blues claimed an eye-catching 4-1 victory at Aston Villa on March 4, that is their only win in the last five Premier League games.

The alarming drop-off has seen Chelsea drop to sixth in the table, and their hammering at PSG has left them on the brink of a Champions League exit.

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Capitulation in the French capital

Rosenior had overseen two wins out of two in the Champions League since arriving in January, a 1-0 win at home to Pafos and that stirring victory at Napoli.

But last week’s surrender in Paris was worrying to say the least.

Chelsea were level with Paris Saint-Germain at 2-2 with 16 minutes remaining, but shipped three late goals to lose 5-2 and make Luis Enrique’s men huge favourites to progress into the quarter-finals.

Rosenior’s side have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 games.

Huddle farce attracts fierce criticism

Chelsea were booed off after being beaten 1-0 at home by Newcastle United on Saturday.

It marked back-to-back defeats following the PSG loss three days earlier and saw more problems emerge for Rosenior.

From a worrying lack of creativity, indiscipline and goalkeeping issues – Robert Sanchez was recalled against the Magpies following Filip Jorgensen’s display in Paris – Rosenior was left with much to think about.

But perhaps the biggest stir was caused by referee Paul Tierney being caught in Chelsea’s pre-match centre circle huddle.

It was a bizarre sight and led to criticism of Rosenior’s players and Tierney.

Rosenior said: “A lot of things are being made of it. To me, it's a show of respect.

“It was disappointing to see the referee stood in the middle. I don't know. It's not in the rules. I don't understand.”

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Champions League football is simply a must

If Chelsea do not qualify to play in Europe’s premier competition next season, then Rosenior will be left facing the sack.

Maresca secured Champions League football, won the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup within the space of a few weeks last year – and still ended up being shown the door.

Rosenior, staring at a Last-16 exit at the hands of PSG, must at least ensure a return to the competition via Chelsea’s Premier League finish.

It could be touch and go, but with growing questions over his managerial style, Rosenior needs to turn the tide and convince Chelsea’s fans and the club’s hierarchy that he is the man to take them forward.

Quite simply, that means Champions League football next season – and nothing less will do.

 

Watch the Champions League on DAZN

Every Champions League match this season can be watched on DAZN in Canada and New Zealand. 

For US soccer fans, watch Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid and Manchester City vs Real Madrid in the Last 16 exclusively on DAZN, in Spanish language.