Liam Rosenior tears into Chelsea players as club hit ‘indefensible’ 114-year low in Premier League – reaction – UK Times

In an interview last Thursday, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali gave his public backing to Liam Rosenior. Since then, Chelsea have lost two more matches, while Eghbali witness chants aimed towards the manager and the owners at Brighton.

“On Liam [Rosenior], we had the opportunity to work with him daily for 18 plus months, so we knew what we were getting. We think he has every attribute to be successful here. He got off to a great start. We’ve had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we’re behind Liam. Of course, it’s a results business, but we think he can be successful long term.”

As cameras constantly cut to Behdad Eghbali and the rest of the Chelsea leadership, it was impossible not to wonder whether they were deciding on Rosenior’s future there and then. No one would be surprised if a club statement was imminent.

His defeated post-match Sky interview even felt like one of those exit speeches. Rosenior he spoke about how Chelsea’s performance was “unacceptable” and “indefensible”. He said he was “hurting” and that their display did not “represent this great football club”.

More words, even if these were conspicuously directed towards the players.

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, on Sky Sports: “Chelsea have been pumped tonight, they were pathetic and are going backwards. The Chelsea players chucked it, they really did and their players have a of of thinking to and where do they go next?”

Chelsea legend Gary Cahill, speaking to Sky Sports, said his former team were “outplayed” by Brighton and there were “no positives” to take.

“I feel somewhat for Liam, I feel the players let him down, but there are some unpleasant stats out there about Chelsea and they are some tough times ahead.

“And Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final is now pivotal for this club, but they look fragile, low on confidence, fragile and in all honesty, it was a difficult watch.”

Brighton were 13 points behind Chelsea just a few weeks ago. Now, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have gone above them into sixth. They’ve picked up 13 points from their last 15 available since a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the start of March.

“We played a good game, we defended well, we had a good structure in possession and created a lot of chances. All in all a good performance and now we have to keep going.

“Another great night and another great connection with the fans. Overall a positive night and now it is about staying humble,” Hurzeler told Sky Sports.

Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, outstanding tonight and a goalscorer in the 3-0 win over Chelsea, sums up how the Seagulls dominated their opponents.

“Today we didn’t let them breathe. Amazing game from every player. We have to continue like this as we have some goals this season.”

They’re pushing for Europe!

Speaking to Sky Sports, defender Trevoh Chalobah claimed Chelsea put in their full effort against Brighton.

He said: “We can be accountable. As players, we have to be accountable for the performance. We know how much the fans are behind us, we know they’re disappointed with the results. We’re not winning games. We have to stick together and pulled through.

“I think the boys were running their socks off. If you look in the dressing room, everyone is tired. It’s nothing to do with effort. We gave it our all. We got beat today.”

The stats would disagree. Chelsea were outran for the 34th time in 34 league games this season.

“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.

“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change.”

It was one of those games where you’d love to focus on Brighton’s performance but, at the end of yet another chastening evening it was hard to take the eyes off the Chelsea captain. There was Enzo Fernandez, standing there mostly motionless in front of the away crowd, other than shrugging his shoulders. That he was wearing the armband only two weeks after being dropped from the first team added to the sense of farce, of a club shredded by so many bad decisions.

What was Fernandez actually doing here? What was he thinking? Maybe it was an apt image in its own bizarre way, because you can say this of the entire club right now. “A sad night for the club”, as one Chelsea insider said. Most visibly, there’s just the way they’re playing. What is Liam Rosenior trying to do?