Chelsea began Liam Rosenior's reign with a 5-1 win over Championship Charlton in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Rosenior, who signed a six-and-a-half year deal to become Enzo Maresca's replacement at Chelsea, got off to a winning start on Saturday when the Blues thrashed Championship Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup third round.
After losing 2-1 to west London rivals Fulham in midweek in a game which Rosenior watched from the stands, Chelsea had five different scorers and struck four times in a dominant second half performance.
The former Strasbourg put his own stamp on the team from the off and allowed a number of fringe players the chance to impress in the fixture.
Plenty made most of the opportunity, with 19-year-old Jorrel Hato opening the scoring at The Valley with a stunning first goal for the club after signing from Ajax in a £35 million summer deal.
Jorrel Hato opened his account for Chelsea. Image: Getty
Hato is a left-back by trade but has largely played second fiddle to Marc Cucurella, who has arguably been one of Chelsea's top performers this season.
The Spaniard was sent off against Fulham but after an impressive display from Hato, fans are unsure whether Cucurella will find his way back into the Chelsea side.
One user on X wrote: "Cucurella watch your back HATO is coming."
A second predicted: "With time Hato would be a certified starter at LB, over Cucurella."
A third added: "What a hit from Hato !!Bench is calling Cucurella."
A fourth stated: "Cucurella it’s time to go. Hato is HIM!!!"
Rosenior was "so impressed" with Chelsea star in first game
Although he hasn't been a regular at Stamford Bridge, Hato has already made a huge impression on Rosenior, who liked what he saw from him when he came off the bench in the loss to Fulham.
Against Charlton, the 41-year-old felt it was a complete performance from Hato - hailing his attacking game and the way in which he defended in one-versus-one situations.
Asked about Hato's display following a difficult start to life at Chelsea, Rosenior said: "He's 19. I saw him play at Fulham. I was so impressed with him then. He's taken that form on to another level today. Not just in terms of his goal. I felt his defensive attributes were top.
"His way that he settled the game down in possession, the way he defended one-v-one and still had the energy and speed to get forward to help us into attack. I know a lot of these players. "They're outstanding young players. It's been a really, really good start for him but a really good start for all of them today with me."
Rosenior was hugely impressed with Hato's performance. Image: Getty
Next up for Rosenior and Chelsea is a huge Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal on Wednesday, before he has his first game managing in the Premier League against Brentford on 17 January.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Only the Relentless Rise: Inside UA Next, the Toughest Talent Pathway in London Sport
Under Armour athletes aren’t just made in the reps and routine. They’re revealed through attitude
For young and aspiring athletes in London, the idea of breaking into elite sport feels like a locked system. Academy trials, limited opportunities and ultimately, the result will lie out of their hands.
Under Armour’s UA Next programme is a long-running talent pathway aiming to not only ease those barriers, but to shatter them.
UA Next, which is now in its tenth season and has tested over 12,500 athletes in London, was created to elevate the next generation of athletes through a level playing field for everyone involved.
By putting a range of 16 to 20-year-olds through vigorous free testing at the UA Next Academy in Battersea, individuals get the chance to showcase their talents.
After being tested on six core athletic measures – which consist of speed, strength, agility, power, endurance and athletic intelligence - top performers progress to the UA Next Camp.
Successful candidates will then face further tests, focusing on the mental aspects required in elite sports, as well as physical skills.
The challenges are designed to push athletes out of their comfort zone within different sporting environments and locations across the capital, replicating the unpredictability of elite sport.
The pathway to the top is not always linear and the UA Next programme is the perfect preparation to discover who is capable of excelling at the highest level.
From there, numbers get even tighter. Over 1500 athletes were tested in the latest season, with only 12 of them invited to the next camp and four of them winning the ultimate prize – a 12-month Under Armour sponsorship contract.
The involvement of a high-profile figure such as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta – who reviewed performances and selected contract winners - raises the competitive credibility even further.
The presence of these elite-level stars highlights the importance of UA Next and what it signifies. The route to the top is changing and this programme, which continues to evolve by the day, offers a genuine and respected pathway outside traditional academy systems.
Featured Image Credit: Under Armour
Liam Rosenior Makes 'Best Midfielder in World Football' Claim in New Interview
He made the comment ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup clash against Charlton on Saturday.
Liam Rosenior has claimed one of his Chelsea players is "the best midfielder in world football".
The 41-year-old, who spent 18 months in charge of Strasbourg and helped the club achieve a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, was appointed Chelsea's head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Rosenior will take charge of his first Chelsea game on Saturday evening, when the Blues take on Championship side Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup.
Earlier this week, the former Fulham, Reading and Hull City defender was reunited with some of his former players, including Liam Delap, Robert Sanchez and Andrey Santos, who flourished at Strasbourg last year.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of this weekend's game against Charlton, Rosenior was asked if he had spoken to any of his former players before joining Chelsea.
"I had a fantastic relationship with Andrey Santos last year," he said. "Liam Delap... I’ve known Rob Sanchez from the age of 16, 17 years old, coaching him at Brighton, but purposely I didn’t want to speak to them."
"I want to have a good relationship with all my players, and actually, I quite like the challenge of walking into the dressing room," he added. "I enjoy the challenge of walking in."
Liam Rosenior ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup clash against Charlton. Image credit: Getty
Rosenior went on to speak about the calibre of players at Chelsea, and claimed Moises Caicedo is "the best midfielder in world football".
"Enzo Fernandez has won the World Cup - what a fantastic player he is," said the former defender. "For me, Moises Caicedo is the best midfield player in world football, in my opinion.
"I’m walking into a group of players who I’ve got so much respect for, for what they’ve already achieved.
"It’s a challenge for me, will they buy on me, will they believe in my message? I actually enjoy that, it sounds a bit crazy, I am a bit crazy but I enjoy that challenge.
"If you want to be a successful manager, the first thing you have to do is get your players to buy into who you are and what you stand for."
The coach also spoke about Enzo Maresca's efforts with the squad.
Liam Rosenior has publicly praised Moises Caicedo. Image credit: Getty
It comes after the Italian parted company with Chelsea on New Year's Day following a poor run of form, as well as a reported deterioration in his relationship with the club's hierarchy.
"I was watching the Club World Cup final as a fan. The performance against PSG, it’s 100 degree heat and they ran and they pressed. Enzo did a fantastic job here in certain ways," said Rosenior.
"I don’t know what happened for me to end up in this position but there’s a lot of good work that’s happened before I’ve come, which is actually very helpful to me. I have to say as well, in the short period we’ve had, Calum McFarlane has been magnificent.
"The second half performance against Man City was top, the lads ran for 75 minutes away from home at Fulham with 10 men and nearly got a result and should’ve got a result through their energy and intensity.
"I’m walking into a really good group of lads, which actually has been even more exaggerated in that feeling from being in with them the last two days, so I’m in a good place.
"I think they’ll buy into me, I think they’ve seen on the training pitch, not just me but my staff, what we’re about, I think they’re quite excited now they’ve got to know me in a short space of time and I’m looking forward to what comes in the next few weeks."
First Player Leaves Chelsea Days After Liam Rosenior Appointment
It is the first transfer deal of the Rosenior era.
The first departure of the Liam Rosenior era has been confirmed, with Chelsea including a sell-on clause as part of the deal.
Rosenior, who made a name for himself at Strasbourg after leading the Ligue 1 side to European football for the first time in two decades, has taken charge at Stamford Bridge following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
The 41-year-old was only appointed by Chelsea this week, but the former Fulham, Reading and Hull City defender has already given the green light to a January departure.
It was confirmed on Friday that Chelsea's former under-18s and under-21 captain Leo Castledine has left the Blues to join Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
Castledine attracted interest from a number of clubs following a recent loan spell at Huddersfield Town, where he scored 10 goals in 23 appearances for the League One outfit this season.
Liam Rosenior was appointed by Chelsea this week. Image credit: Getty
Middlesbrough will initially pay just under £1 million for Castledine, according to Teesside Live, with Chelsea including a future sell-on fee for the highly-rated forward.
Speaking on his arrival at the Riverside, Castledine said: "I’m absolutely over the moon to join what is a massive, massive club. It’s a really big step for me in my career and I’m very excited to be here.
"There’s always been trust in young players at this club if they can perform, and I want to perform at my highest level."
He added: "I’m fit, healthy and I’ve been playing well, so I feel ready to go. I want to help the team as much as I can from the first day."
Boro head coach Kim Hellberg was full of praise for Castledine ahead of his arrival.
"He’s a good player. He’s done a brilliant job at Huddersfield - doing a lot of good stuff," said Hellberg. "He is capable of scoring a lot of goals. So he is a good player.”
Castledine was labelled a 'wonderkid' during his time at Chelsea. Image credit: Getty
Rosenior, meanwhile, arrives at Chelsea having managed over 150 matches in his short four-year career as a manager. He has signed a six-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
"I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club," he said this week. "This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies."
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, EFL Championship
Ex-Chelsea Player, 33, Who Has 'Days to Live' Makes New Heartbreaking Statement
The former Chelsea player has spoken out after confirming he was suffering from a critical illness.
Former Chelsea youth player Lamisha Musonda has released another statement after confirming he has just days to live.
In a heartbreaking post on social media, Musonda, 33, recently confirmed that he is battling a serious illness and doesn't expect to live for much longer.
During his playing career, Musonda joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2012 alongside his siblings Tika and Charly, but failed to make it into the senior squad, spending two years playing for the club's academy youth sides before returning to Belgium to play for Mechelen.
The Belgian retired from professional football in his late 20s and five years later has revealed that he is fighting for his life, describing his current health situation as 'critical'.
Following the sudden revelation, tributes from several Chelsea fans and former players alike poured in sharing their best wished for Musonda, who has responded with a new statement on social media.
Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun, Juan Mata and Lamisha Musonda during a training session in 2013. Image credit: Getty
Among those passing on well wishes to the 33-year-old following the tragic news was former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who wrote: "Courage Lamisha. We are with you."
And it's clear that the messages have meant a lot to Musonda, who again took to Instagram to thank God, his family and anyone passing on kind and positive messages following his previous post.
Posting on Instagram, he wrote; "I want to thank God for the prayers, kind messages loaded with positivity and love that I have received from everyone. I want to thank my family included. My brothers and parents love me more than anything.
"I am in no means the perfect human being. No one is. I want to thank football and school also, for giving me real life lessons.
"I want to be remembered as someone who didn’t fall in love with the adulations. But the good people I met along the way… the teammates, the teachers, the coaches, the bus drivers... It’s for them, I fight and stay strong.
"Let’s win each day at a time. Love you all!"
Lamisha Musonda joined Chelsea in 2012. (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Musonda’s younger brother Charly, 29, made seven senior Chelsea appearances during his career but announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 28 in June last year, after suffering from recurring injuries.
Middle brother Tika, 31, has also put his playing days behind him and now works as a football scout.
Our latest content
Check out what's new in our company !