Soccer
Forget David Brent, Liam Rosenior is looking and sounding the part as Chelsea manager ahead of crunch Napoli showdown
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He is only five games into his reign, but Liam Rosenior is already starting to feel like he belongs as Chelsea manager.
Tonight at Napoli, though, he faces arguably his biggest challenge yet since taking the reins as the Blues bid to automatically qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Here, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall assesses the early impact made by Rosenior as he goes head to head with ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
David Brent or the real deal?
Eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Chelsea turned to Rosenior after parting company with Enzo Maresca earlier this month.
Rosenior’s only previous permanent managerial job in English football saw him sacked by Hull City after failing to make the play-offs two seasons ago.
Still, that did little to quell his relentless drive and ambition to get to the top and so, after a relatively successful spell in charge of Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg, Rosenior landed the Chelsea post.
That Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea added to the cynicism surrounding Rosenior’s appointment.
Fashion conscious and very media friendly, Rosenior has been mocked as “the new David Brent” by fans after old quotes emerged of him likening his coaching style to splitting the word “manage” into two words.
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Actions speak louder than words
Say what you like about Rosenior’s management speak, but Chelsea’s results since he arrived at Stamford Bridge say a lot more.
So far it is four wins from five games; an impressive statistic for a club who struggled quite badly for form prior to his arrival.
Rosenior kicked off his reign with a thumping 5-1 FA Cup third-round win at Charlton Athletic and has also overseen Premier League wins against Brentford and Crystal Palace.
True, they lost 3-2 to Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final but beat Pafos in Rosenior’s first Champions League game.
Rosenior’s record thus far of four wins and one defeat has seen Chelsea score 13 goals and concede five.
An upward curve? You would certainly think so.
The smartly-dressed 41-year-old is a thoughtful, intelligent and fiercely ambitious manager who is making his mark at Stamford Bridge.
Toughest test yet looms in deepest, darkest Italy
A trip to Naples can be unforgiving for visitors and Chelsea face a stern challenge when they take on Napoli on Matchday 8 of the Champions League.
The defending Serie A champions have struggled to make any real impression in Europe this season.
Now Antonio Conte’s men need at least a point to even make the play-offs for a place in the last 16.
They lie 25th after seven rounds of action and a win would almost certainly be enough to elevate them into the top 24 teams.
Conte won a Premier League title and an FA Cup at Chelsea before being sacked in July 2018 after two years in charge.
He would surely love to put a spoke in Chelsea’s top-eight hopes and beating the Blues would be huge for the Italian champions.
Napoli are off the title pace in Serie A right now – they lie fourth and nine points behind leaders Inter – but there is no denying the quality within their ranks.
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All guns blazing for Naples showdown
Cole Palmer played no part in Chelsea's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
He has reportedly been nursing a minor thigh injury and is set to return to action in Naples.
That will be good news for Rosenior, who has only been able to call on Palmer once since taking charge.
In another boost, teenage Brazilian sensation Estevao is living up to his billing as one of the best young prospects in the game.
Signed from Palmeiras in the summer, the 18-year-old has performed many of the roles that Palmer can do.
He scored Chelsea’s opener against Palace and then provided a second for his compatriot Joao Pedro.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 8
Wednesday, 28 January
- Ajax v Olympiakos
- Arsenal v Kairat Almaty
- Athletic Bilbao v Sporting CP
- Atlético Madrid v FK Bodø/Glimt
- Barcelona v FC Copenhagen
- Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal
- Benfica v Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan
- Club Brugge v Olympique Marseille
- Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur
- Liverpool v FK Qarabağ
- Manchester City v Galatasaray
- Monaco v Juventus
- Napoli v Chelsea
- PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich
- Pafos v Slavia Prague
- Paris St Germain v Newcastle United
- Union Saint-Gilloise v Atalanta
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