“You don’t want to cross him”

Pundit Wayne Rooney has backed Liam Rosenior to shine if he does get appointed as the new Chelsea head coach. The Manchester United and England legend worked alongside the Strasbourg boss in his time as Derby County manager between 2021 and 2022.

Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge, and Rooney has issued a vote of confidence on the 41-year-old. Speaking on BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, the former England international pointed out that Rosenior is one of the best coaches he has worked with. He revealed that Rosenior is capable of being firm and will be ready to grab his chance with both hands at Chelsea.

“He’s taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with. His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day, he’s as good as I’ve worked with. Liam was so important for me. He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager and dealing with players and everything. So I learned a lot from him from that point of view and then I think he’s done a great job as a whole.

“He’s also got a side which you don’t want to cross him as well. That’s important as well. If he goes in there, he won’t disappoint. He’s been waiting for an opportunity like this. If you don’t take it now, then you’re never going to take it. And I think he’s done his apprenticeship, he’s done his work to try and get to that job. So he’ll have no doubts in his mind that he’s capable of doing that job. And hopefully, very soon, hopefully we hear that he is the manager, because for young English coaches I think it’s massive. We don’t really see English managers at big clubs. So he’d be leading the way for for us”, he said.

Rosenior was Rooney’s assistant between January 2021 and June 2022 before being named as interim boss at Derby County after Rooney’s resignation. He went on to work with Hull City, spending nearly two years at the club before he was sacked, and joined Strasbourg in the summer of 2024.

Liam Rosenior led the Ligue 1 side to a seventh place finish in the 2024-25 season, only missing out on UEFA Champions League football on the final day of the season. His good work has earned him propulsion to the sights of the Chelsea bosses, and he appears set to emerge as their new head coach.

Chelsea captain provides update on coach hunt

Chelsea captain Reece James has revealed that the players are in the dark with regards to the club’s pursuit of a new coach. The Blues were led by U-21 coach Calum McFarlane as they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking to the media after the game, James pointed out that the players do not know what the club’s plans are with respect to a new coach. He said that they had spent the week preparing to face City and will see what developments occur in the coming days.

“We know nothing at the moment. This whole week was about this game. What happens behind the scenes is not down to us. We focused on the game. We will see what happens in the coming days”, he said (via Daily Post NG).

Reece James was named as Man of the Match after a sterling showing in midfield for Chelsea against Pep Guardiola‘s side. He was praised by the club’s interim head coach McFarlane over his conduct and how he helped pull the team together before, during, and after the game.