Chelsea count cost of Rosenior ‘obsession’ and live football scoreswinning Man Utd battle vs Newcastle
Will Ford Alejandro Garnacho frustrated on the pitch for Chelsea.
After Chelsea counted the cost of Liam Rosenior’s tactical “obsession” on Wednesday as Paris Saint-Germain tore through them at the Paris des Princes in the last 20 minutes, Eddie Howe and Newcastle relied on the same fixation at Stamford Bridge to strike a crushing blow in the Blues’ bid for Champions League qualification.
“He can go left, he can go right. But no, there’s an obsession with going through the centre,” Jamie Carragher said as he analysed Filip Jorgensen’s blunder, which turned the tide firmly in PSG’s favourfrom a state of extreme and impressive comfort for Chelsea at the home of the European champions.
Enzo Fernandez was seen screaming at the goalkeeper after having his pocket picked from another straight pass late in the defeat; in response to the Jorgensen error and that viral clip, Roseniorreaffirmed he’s asked his players to “play in a certain way”.
The risk is clear and – in fairness – so too was the reward in Paris and for the first 20 minutes here, when Cole Palmer was frequently found on the half-turn between the lines and perhaps should have made more of the favourable positions he took up, as Chelsea failed to take advantage of a spell of dominance expected against a Newcastle team without any of midfield trio Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali or Joelinton for the first time in the Premier League under Eddie Howe.
Rarely has the ‘goals change games’ cliche been quite so justified, nor a Premier League goal scored quite so easily – ironically straight through Chelsea’s soft centre – as Rosenior shook his head on the touchline at his players’ disregard for his “obsession”.
Tino Livramento took a stroll into midfield and could hardly believe his eyes as he looked up and spotted Joe Willock free in a gaping hole between Chelsea’s two centre-backs having wandered off the back of Reece James in midfield. Willock ran through and squared the ball for Anthony Gordon, who took one touch before rolling it into an empty net.
To say Chelsea lost their way after the goal would be the understatement of all understatements as Howe and Newcastle gave Alejandro Garnacho and Palmer the wings in the knowledge that they would never use them, clogging up passing lanes in the centre of the pitch to stymie Chelsea entirely for the rest of the first half and much of the second.
A three-minute period to sum up the flow of the game saw Chelsea play very pretty but pointless passes and turn down several presentable crossing opportunities before Fernandez delivered one straight to Aaron Ramsdale, and then quite literally one pass had Harvey Barnes running in behind the Blues defence.
Chelsea improved in the second half but created little and any time a player popped up in space in a shooting position they were swarmed by a hugely impressive Newcastle defence.
READ MORE: Premier League 2025/26 prize money table and final possible positions calculated
Liam Delap came on at half time to offer the Blues more presence in the box as Rosenior recognised the primary means of creating chances would be through crosses into the box, but the £30m summer signing’s harrowing debut season continued to strengthen suggestions it may also be his last.
Chris Sutton claimed Delap was “unlucky” as a flicked header from a Palmer cross drifted just wide of the post, though the abundance of misfortune in similar positions this term suggests his lack of goals is more down to a lack of quality he displayed in stunning style through a left-foot swinger as he spurned Chelsea’s best chance of the second half.
The ball rolled to him under some pressure from a Newcastle defender and rather than pass a shot into the bottom corner, he struck it like someone who has rarely seen a football, let alone kicked one. Todd Boehly must have been ruing victory over Manchester United in that transfer battle as he watched from the stands.
It’s a huge opportunity missed for Chelsea, who could have gone third with victory over a team they’d lost to just once at home before in Premier League history, featuring none of their trusted midfield trio, between two Champions League games against Barcelona.
It’s embarrassing for Rosenior, who handed out more notes to his players than Chelsea created chances in a game where his “obsession” cost them in attack after it hurt them in defence against PSG. A Plan B more nuanced than sending on an inept big man up top might be good if Rosenior is to lead Chelsea in a “successful” season.
“A successful season for this club has to be to qualify for the Champions League,” Rosenior said last month. “It has to be. That’s the level of this club. Where we are, we still have a very, very good chance of achieving that. Also to win a trophy would be amazing. It’s something that’s achievable.”
Amid reports suggesting his future may be inextricably linked with that achievement, this was a performance and result to suggest he’s on his way to being sacked by a club and BlueCo hierarchy who’ve shown beyond doubt that they won’t suffer fools who fail to meet their mark.
READ NEXT: Rosenior channels Mourinho at Chelsea as three ‘bests’ expose Tottenham joke Tudor
F365 Says Liam Rosenior
Related Articles
George Dempsey
Cole Palmer ‘disillusioned’ at Chelsea as Man Utd prepare record £150m swoop
Cole Palmer is reportedly increasingly “disillusioned” with life at Chelsea and is prepared to consider a blockbuster summer move to Manchester United.According to a report in The Sun…
Home Page Cole Palmer Lewis Oldham
Chelsea decide ‘only scenario’ for Rosenior to be sacked as head coach ‘safe’ even without CL
According to reports, Chelsea have ‘only’ one ‘scenario’ in which they will part ways with head coach Liam Rosenior anytime soon.
Chelsea Liam Rosenior Joe Williams
Chelsea told to rehire Frank Lampard after BlueCo make Liam Rosenior sack decision
Manchester United legend Nicky Butt reckons Chelsea should look to rehire Frank Lampard from Coventry City at the end of the season.?
Chelsea Frank Lampard Will Ford
Ranking 24 BlueCo mistakes at Chelsea as Rosenior appointment joins three sackings
We bring you the many, wide-ranging mistakes of Chelsea owners BlueCo, whose extraordinary reign started with them sacking Tuchel and recently saw them appoint Rosenior.
F365 Features Liam Rosenior Subhankar Mondal
Chelsea target John Terry as ‘interim fix’ and ex-teammate for ‘bigger picture’ as ‘Rosenior on borrowed time’ – report
Chelsea already have a long-term manager in mind should they sack Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea Cesc Fabregas James Holland
Chelsea to ‘immediately phone’ sublime 38y/o coach as Liam Rosenior destroyed – pundit
A pundit has torn into under-fire Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior and named which exciting coach should be hired next
Chelsea Cesc Fabregas
Latest Football News
Tottenham player-manager one of seven interim ‘options’ to replace Igor Tudor
Ben Davies Harry Redknapp
Tottenham next manager timeframe revealed after Tudor exit as ‘Spurs man’ backed
Igor Tudor
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor exit and tease ‘new Head Coach’
Igor Tudor Roberto De Zerbi
‘Not Harvard English’ – Toni Kroos confused by Geordie accent as brother Felix hails Newcastle ‘summer’
Toni Kroos
Hungary manager hits out at Arne Slot ‘nonsense’ after telling Liverpool boss ‘not to interfere’
Arne Slot Mailbox
Man Utd ‘in purgatory’ under Carrick as Klopp ‘logic’ dispels top replacement doubts
Michael Carrick
Carrick in or out? Man Utd would be stupid to rush manager decision
Michael Carrick Popular
Rashford, Foden, Gordon to Liverpool proposed as Salah debate rages on
Mohamed Salah Popular
Mo Salah is no Luis Suarez; the Liverpool fan verdict is in
Mohamed Salah Popular Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Arsenal star ‘called out’ as Spurs handed ‘huge boost’ and World Cup ‘nightmare’ emerges
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal face summer ‘transfer conundrum’ as Mo Salah ‘dream club’ revealed
Mohamed Salah Popular
Salah exit prompts ‘genuine concern’ about Premier League as two Liverpool mysteries solved
Mo Salah Popular
Arsenal season starting to unravel as ‘injury crisis’ hits at ‘worst possible time’
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.