Vesper

INSANE that Tosin is starting WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤬

Bomb squad this plonker, NOW

Calvin Bassey is with Nigeria at AFCON Alex Iwobi is with Nigeria at AFCON Samuel Chukwueze is with Nigeria at AFCON Rodrigo Muniz is injured Kenny Tete is injured Josh King is injured

Strasbourg fans’ group says Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea move ‘humiliating’, calls for club president’s exit https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6944885/2026/01/06/strasbourg-protests-Chelsea-liam-rosenior-manager/ Strasbourg fans have called for the club president Marc Keller to leave after the “humiliating” departure of Liam Rosenior for Chelsea. Both clubs are controlled by BlueCo, which is owned by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. On Tuesday, Chelsea announced Rosenior’s arrival on a contract to 2032 after parting ways with Enzo Maresca last week. As reported by The Athletic, Rosenior flew to London on Sunday to continue talks alongside Keller and Strasbourg sporting director David Weir. Rosenior flew back to Strasbourg on Monday and said he “could not turn down the opportunity” in his final press conference at the Ligue 1 club the following day. “Liam Rosenior’s transfer marks yet another humiliating step in Racing’s subjugation to Chelsea,” read a statement from the Federation Supporters RCS, one of Strasbourg’s largest fan groups. “For two and a half years, we and others have been trying to raise the alarm about this. “The problem goes far beyond the sporting impact mid-season and the ambitions of a young coach. It is structural; the future of French club football is at stake. “Every additional contortion by Marc Keller, every extra minute he spends at the helm of the club, is an insult to the tremendous work done before 2023. What many saw as an exaggeration last September is looking more and more like sound advice: it’s time to leave. Now.” What You Should Read Next It’s not working for West Ham with Nuno Espirito Santo, but he’s not their only problem A 3-0 capitulation to the Premier League's cut-adrift bottom side has brought all of the club's shortcomings to the surface BlueCo bought Strasbourg in the summer of 2023 for €76.3million (£66.5m; $89.5m) — a year after completing its purchase of Chelsea for £4.25billion — in what was meant to be a model that benefitted both clubs but has created divisions within the Ligue 1 club’s fanbase. Last summer, BlueCo spent a club-record €127.5m on new Strasbourg players in the summer transfer window after finishing seventh in Ligue 1 and qualifying for the Conference League. Since the partnership, there have been 12 transfers between the clubs. The most recent transfer was Chelsea agreeing a deal to sign striker Emmanuel Emegha at the end of the season, prompting the French club’s fans to raise a banner asking him to step down from captaincy. Emegha had scored 14 goals in all competitions during 2024-25 and has five so far this term. “We are very much the junior partner in the setup,” a spokesperson for one of the four Strasbourg supporters’ organisations told The Athletic earlier this month. “Whereas it’s the Emegha transfer, or if they take our manager, we will always be the little brother.” Chelsea Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane has led the first team since Maresca’s departure, overseeing a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to keep them in fifth place. Strasbourg are seventh in Ligue 1, winless in five games. By Jessica Hopkins Junior News Editor

What will Liam Rosenior bring to Chelsea? Flexible formations, central progression, energetic pressing https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6935749/2026/01/06/liam-rosenior-tactical-style-Chelsea/ As far as new manager searches go, Chelsea did not have to cast their net too wide after parting company with Enzo Maresca last week. BlueCo’s multi-club model has already seen players linking up with sister side, Strasbourg — but now Chelsea are turning to the man in the dugout, with Liam Rosenior replacing Maresca. Inconsistency is the key theme that has underpinned Chelsea’s past 18 months. Europa Conference League success and victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final suggested things were clicking into a new gear for the 2025-26 season. Wins over Barcelona and Liverpool were the highs in recent months, but a draw with Bournemouth and losses to newly-promoted Leeds United and Sunderland were the lows. Still, the foundations are there for a new manager to work with. Chelsea sit fifth in the table with a strong possibility of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Instilling that consistency with such a young squad is a difficult task, but there are few coaches in Europe better suited to dealing with those demands than Rosenior. This is The Athletic’s breakdown of the 41-year-old’s tactical style. In an era when coaches are lauded for their dogmatic and unwavering football principles, there is a refreshing pragmatism to Rosenior’s set-up. Strasbourg can switch formation depending on the opposition, with a versatility that allows Rosenior to alternate between a back three — typically a 3-4-2-1 — and a back four, in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 formation. This is highlighted in their recent passing networks below. Note how high goalkeeper Mike Penders is in his starting position. The 20-year-old, on loan from Chelsea, is crucial in Strasbourg’s build-up — often joining the defensive line in possession and using his strengths as a capable progressive passer. For context, no Ligue 1 goalkeeper (with 900-plus minutes played) averages more touches outside of their penalty area than Penders’ 39.4 per 90 minutes. Maximising control via possession is a staple diet of any modern coach, and Rosenior is no different — with short, sharp passing being a key component of his style. The extent to which his side sticks to those principles is what is particularly noteworthy, with only PSG and Barcelona having a lower share of their passes being hit long (35-plus yards) than Strasbourg’s six per cent across Europe’s top five leagues this season. This approach is reflected below when looking at their playing style compared with Europe’s top seven leagues in 2024-25, as the last complete season. Note how considered their passing is within their own third (deep build-up, 90 out of 99) and how much they look to work the ball through the heart of the pitch (central progression, 87 out of 99) to underpin their progressive approach upfield. Crucially, there is purpose to such passing. Frustrations among Chelsea fans have often been that Maresca’s patient possession might look after the ball and squeeze the opposition back, but it could often come with a toothless end to the sequence at the sharp end of the pitch. As the graphic above shows, Strasbourg are less focused on territorial dominance (field tilt, 32 out of 99). Their central progression does not necessarily mean that they have a slow, patient attack (39 out of 99), instead looking to accelerate forward quickly when the spaces open up — crafting high-quality chances when the opposition shape is disrupted (shot quality, 98 out of 99). Take the example below, against Brest in October. The ball is bounced from Julio Enciso to Samir El Mourabet, who plays another returned first-time pass to striker Joaquin Panichelli, who drags Brest’s centre-back with him. Note the third-man run made by Ben Chilwell — formerly of Chelsea — on the left wing during this central progression. As Brest’s shape is pulled apart, El Mourabet finds Chilwell’s run, with the 29-year-old crossing excellently for Sam Amo-Ameyaw to finish first time. A very similar pattern can be seen in Strasbourg’s Europa Conference League clash with Crystal Palace. A neat flick from Valentin Barco finds Sebastian Nanasi through the heart of the pitch, with first-time passing once again cutting through the opposition’s shape. Another third-man run — this time from Diego Moreira — sees Strasbourg’s left wing-back arrive onto the ball to cross for Emmanuel Emegha (who will join Chelsea next summer) to finish first time. It is a near-carbon copy of the goal above, which highlights the passing pattern that Rosenior has established. This fluidity in possession allows Strasbourg’s players to rotate and attract the opposition towards them, before exploiting the space they have opened, allowing them to create high-quality chances. Such is their focus on crafting lucrative opportunities that only Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich create more “clear shots” — defined by Opta as having only one or no outfield players blocking the ball’s path to goal — than Strasbourg’s 3.1 per 90 minutes across Europe’s top five leagues this season. Out of possession, Rosenior has steadily built his side into a brave, high-pressing side with bags of enthusiasm. “You can dominate the game in many ways,” Rosenior told The Athletic FC podcast in October. “To have the ball is great, but you can also dominate space and territory. When I coach a team, I want them to enjoy what they do, to feel like they are children, because that is where your enthusiasm for football comes from. “Normally, to love the game, you have to express yourself with the ball. Pressing is an extension of that, pressing is trying to get the ball back as quickly as possible, to play with energy, and that is just the way I like to play football.” It will depend on the phase of the game, but Strasbourg will often match up the opposition man-for-man when pushing forward — looking to maximise their own attacking opportunities when regaining possession in the final third, much in the same way that Chelsea do. This is neatly shown across a wider trend since Rosenior arrived in 2024, where a lower rate of high turnovers was seen under the previous manager, Patrick Vieira. After a levelling-off at the end of last season, there has been an upward trend in Strasbourg’s possession regains in the attacking third this campaign — with only PSG managing more goal-ending high turnovers in Ligue 1 than their five in 2025-26. While they are not infallible out of possession, there is an ethos to be brave and bold against the ball. An excellent example of that comes from Strasbourg’s 3-3 draw with PSG in October. As Desire Doue collects the loose ball, Strasbourg have bravely squeezed the pitch and cut out all his passing options. As Doue makes the pass, there are six players matching up PSG in the final third. Moreira easily intercepts the pass before receiving it back from Barco to slot past goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and — at that time — put Strasbourg 2-1 up. Such enthusiasm in and out of possession must be channelled correctly when considering the age of the squad Rosenior has at his disposal. Chelsea fans have seen the effects of BlueCo’s business model to invest in young talent and increase their valuations as they develop, but Strasbourg takes that mantra to another level. At an average age of 21.9 years old, Strasbourg comfortably have the youngest squad in Europe’s top five leagues — more than two years younger than the nearest club (PSG, 24 years old). While youth has been paired with naivety and inexperience at times at Chelsea, Rosenior has been quick to emphasise the importance of channelling such greenness in a positive way. “Education is everything,” he told The Athletic FC podcast. “If you get angry at someone for making a mistake or missing a shot, you’re missing the point — for me, it’s about giving players accountability. The beautiful thing about working with younger players is that they are fearless. There is no negative experience.” A key mitigating factor is that the spotlight is not as sharp in France as it is in the Premier League, with the smallest errors often heavily scrutinised within the Chelsea bubble. Having the space to learn and develop is afforded much less in west London, but Rosenior is well-qualified to be the man to nurture a squad with less experience than others in the division. Much like Maresca, Rosenior would arrive at Stamford Bridge with experience of managing in England, if not in the Premier League. Preparing for the physicality of the top division will require Rosenior to call upon his experience from the Championship, having managed at Hull City and Derby County (on an interim basis) before his role at Strasbourg — not to mention his own playing career in England spanning across seven different clubs. The impact of a manager can often be debated, but Rosenior’s influence in France is not to be underestimated — leading his side to a seventh-place, European finish in his opening campaign after they had finished 13th and 15th in their previous two seasons. Looking at their Elo ratings — a system that is used as a proxy of team strength — over time, Rosenior has led Strasbourg to their highest rating in the club’s history, highlighting the success that he has overseen since arriving in northeastern France. The BlueCo model has catalysed that success with their investment in youthful, exciting players who are developed under their ownership. Rosenior has now made the move to Chelsea, showing just how much the owners have similar optimism in investing in young, exciting managers. By Mark Carey Football Writer

Over 90 per cent of Chelsea fans lack confidence in club’s owners, survey finds https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6946191/2026/01/06/Chelsea-fans-no-confidence-hierarchy/ A snap survey by Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has revealed that over 90 per cent of fans do not have confidence in “the ownership group’s football-related decision-making”, while more than 80 per cent are not confident that the club is being run in a way that will deliver “sustained success over the next three to five years”. The vote closed at 23:59 UK time on Sunday, by which point The Athletic had reported that Liam Rosenior was the leading contender to replace Enzo Maresca as head coach after Chelsea and the Italian parted ways less than two years into his contract. On Tuesday, Rosenior was confirmed as the current ownership group’s fourth permanent managerial appointment since 2022 on a six-year contract. The survey, which garnered nearly 4,000 responses in 48 hours, also found that more than 40 per cent of respondents felt the club’s current sporting structure is “not fit for purpose”, with a further 42.69 per cent believing it has “significant weaknesses”. The most damning response was surely in relation to satisfaction with the owners’ football decisions, with 53.7 per cent of respondents having “no confidence at all” and 36.9 per cent “not very much confidence”. Similarly, 46.3 per cent of respondents expressed “no confidence at all” in the club’s sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as the recruitment and football operations teams, with 40.6 per cent having “not very much confidence”. Analysis of the voting described “clearer football leadership and accountability” as what respondents viewed to be the “overwhelming top priority” for the club to work on. “The CST believes the findings highlight a material and ongoing confidence gap between the club and its supporters,” the Trust’s statement said on Tuesday. “As a first and necessary step, we urge the club to provide further information and rationale. “While the strength of feeling reflected in the results may be uncomfortable, the themes identified are not new. They have been evident over a sustained period and have persisted even during times of on-pitch success, indicating that these concerns relate to confidence, clarity and trust rather than short-term results or isolated events.” Chelsea are owned by BlueCo, the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital consortium that also owns Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. On Tuesday, the French club’s supporters also expressed displeasure at the way their club is run, calling for their club president’s exit after the “humiliating” departure of Rosenior. What You Should Read Next Strasbourg fans’ group says Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea move ‘humiliating’, calls for club president’s exit Both clubs are owned by the BlueCo consortium and have had 12 player transfers take place between them since the takeover in summer 2023. In addition to the head coach, 12 players have transferred between the clubs since their joint ownership was completed in 2023. Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League, having maintained their position with a 1-1 draw against Manchester City with under-21s coach Calum McFarlane in the dugout. By Jessica Hopkins Junior News Editor

EXCL: Inside Chelsea: The truth about the project I sat down with Chelsea’s Sporting leadership team https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/inside-Chelsea-the-truth-about-the Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Chelsea’s Sporting Leadership Team to discuss the club’s project, raise concerns, and gain a clearer understanding of the long-term strategy. I hope this article provides insight into Chelsea’s inner workings and explains why I remain positive about where the club can go, if execution is right. The Concerns Raised The key concerns I highlighted were: A youth-focused recruitment strategy leading to inconsistent performances Inexperience across the club Gaps within the squad Whether the project can realistically deliver major trophies Whether Chelsea’s ambition is to win titles or simply secure top-four finishes Why This Strategy Exists First, it was important to understand where this strategy comes from and why Chelsea believe it is necessary. The club recognises that there are around five European teams that are effectively impossible to compete with directly on a financial level, due to differences in overall revenue, stadium income, and state ownership - PSG, Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid and Man City. Attempting to compete in the same way long-term would leave Chelsea vulnerable. In truth, that way of working was already showing signs of strain under Roman Abramovich. While successful in cups, Chelsea’s league form fluctuated significantly. The club last won the Premier League in 2016/17, and across the remaining seasons under Roman, Chelsea averaged a fourth-place finish, around 25 points off the title pace. In truth, Chelsea have not yet found the right balance between the two, resulting in inconsistent performances and a significant number of dropped points from winning positions. While the youthfulness of the squad has played a role in this, it is far from the only factor. Enzo Maresca’s limited ability to influence games from the bench also contributed to these issues. Chelsea understand that knockout competitions like the FA Cup, League Cup, or even the Champions League can be won with favourable draws and timely form. Look at the Club World Cup in the summer for example! The true litmus test, however, is the league. You cannot fluke a 38-game season. You must be consistently elite. The Rebuild and Expectations This reality drove the decision to commit to a full rebuild: lowering the average squad age, restructuring wages, and building a sustainable future, while still remaining competitive in the present. Importantly, the minimum expectation at Chelsea has not changed. Champions League qualification every season remains the baseline. Much of the rebuilding work has now been completed, and the current squad should be capable of finishing in the top five this season and beyond. That does not mean Chelsea will stop investing. Rather, a significant amount of groundwork has already been laid. PSR, UEFA Constraints, and Market Freedom It is also worth noting that Chelsea have not been operating freely in the transfer market. PSR restrictions during 2024, alongside UEFA sanctions last season, limited flexibility. Those UEFA issues have now been navigated, and upcoming changes to PSR rules should offer greater room to manoeuvre. This should not be interpreted as a radical shift in strategy, but it will provide more freedom moving forward. Closing the Gap and Sustaining Success Chelsea’s next challenge is closing the gap to the teams above and then competing consistently for the Premier League and Champions League. Crucially, the club wants to sustain that level once reached, rather than spike and fall away again. A comparison can be made with Arsenal’s recent rise, though Chelsea’s aim is to finish the job rather than fall short. Everything Chelsea do is framed for the long-term benefit. The club does not want to mortgage its future for short-term optics. That does not mean Chelsea will never sign older players or those without resale value, but such deals must make sense holistically. There is no under-23s-only rule. To date, under this sporting leadership, the right opportunity has not yet presented itself. Take Antoine Semenyo as an example. A £65m fee plus wages exceeding £200k per week would significantly disrupt the wage structure without materially changing Chelsea’s performance this season. However, if in the future a player represents the missing piece in a title push, the club would not hesitate to act. Accountability and Internal Pressure One key takeaway from the meeting was the level of self-reflection and accountability within the club. Despite media portrayals, the sporting team is under immense pressure to deliver, but is also protected and empowered to make decisions aligned with the club’s long-term interests. Without this structure, clubs end up making reckless win-now decisions that cause long-term damage. Examples include signing injury-prone strikers for £125m when also signing high-potential options with Isak and Ekitike, or committing massive fees and wages to forwards who are not elite and difficult to sell. Players such as Havertz or Gyökeres on £250k per week or more restrict resale markets to only a handful of clubs worldwide. Another thing I want to point out is they know they haven’t been perfect, they know they have made mistakes and they have processes in place to ensure the same mistakes aren’t made. The Managerial Situation There is little value in dwelling on Maresca now that he has departed. However, it is clear that the relationship had broken down, and change was necessary. Outside of other issues, as I stated on The Blues Feed, Chelsea should be the destination, not a stepping stone. If a manager or player is openly flirting with other clubs, they should be moved on. Full commitment is non-negotiable. Squad Management and Medical Influence Contrary to some reports, Chelsea categorically deny influencing team selection beyond player welfare and injury prevention. The club’s medical and performance teams, among the best in football, provide recommendations based on injury risk and conditioning. Final decisions remain with the manager. If a player is cleared for only 45 minutes, the manager decides whether that time comes from the start or the bench. Greater transparency around this process may have avoided fan backlash in situations such as Cole Palmer’s substitution. Had supporters known he could not complete 90 minutes, the reaction may have been different. Recruitment and Manager Involvement Claims that Maresca was not consulted on transfers are simply false. He approved all summer signings and was actively involved throughout the process. While he did want a centre-back, he was unwilling to sanction departures to create space, and no suitable option emerged following the pursuit of Dean Huijsen. Liverpool found themselves in a similar position. Chelsea’s recruitment model is a partnership. There are no manager-only or club-only signings. Both approaches fail long-term. The New Head Coach: Liam Rosenior Liam is not an unknown quantity to Chelsea. The club has known him for years, and he has worked within the structure for 18 months. He has longstanding relationships within the sporting team. He is described as hardworking, humble, intelligent, and articulate, someone the players and fans are likely to connect with. His track record shows consistent overperformance and strong player development. Tactically, he has already impressed against elite coaches such as Luis Enrique and Oliver Glasner. With the youngest squads in Europe, it will be fascinating to see what he can achieve with improved player quality and tougher opposition. The obvious question is whether he is ready for the pressure of the Chelsea job. Only time will tell, but from a personality and leadership standpoint, the signs are encouraging. Transfers: What to Expect Chelsea are expected to pursue another elite attacking option this summer, which explains the earlier enquiry for Semenyo before deciding not to proceed. The club is also aware that it lacks physicality relative to rivals and will look to address this, without sacrificing technical quality, in upcoming windows. Centre-back and striker remain areas of monitoring, with pathways also being considered for players already owned by the club, including Josh Acheampong, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino, Emanuel Emegha, and Dastan Satpayev. Final Thoughts As mentioned at the start, I entered this process with concerns. Many of those have been addressed, and I feel more confident about Chelsea’s long-term direction. One thing is very clear to me is throughout the club, there is a passion for us to succeed and a real togetherness which we saw in the 1-1 draw with City. Every single player, coach and director all pulled together in the time of uncertainty to ensure on the field results weren’t effected. One thing someone said to me really stuck with me as i have felt like this as a Chelsea time for a very long time. We are at WAR with every other club in the Premier League and Europe to achieve the goals we want to.` This all said, the proof will come through execution and the results we get. Strategy alone guarantees nothing. Hopefully, this article has provided clarity and reassurance. Let us know your thoughts on the piece, and your feelings about Chelsea’s direction, in the comments below. Danny Windsor A note by myself, Simon Phillips. I was at this meeting with Danny and Luke, and one thing I will add is also contrary to belief, members of this sporting team hold a very good footballing knowledge and are VERY passionate about the club - there is no doubts around how hard they work and how obsessed they are with this club. I have obviously not been as positive on the ownership on X over the last week or so as Danny is being here. But I did get a lot of encouragement from meeting them, as well as from reading back on the points that Danny has articulated superbly here. What I am doing is staying open to everything. I’ve never doubted their ambition, even if my emotions as a fan first can boil over sometimes. But although it seems like gloom and doom right now and I do think that fans have been right to take action and makes their voices heard, there are many things to be encouraged about. Time will tell on it all, as Danny says. For me, this summer and what happens, as I’ve written in an article this week, is CRUCIAL. Simon Phillips

it is worth an ask same for Garnacho

Murillo with an OG v West Sham 1 nil pikeys

He scored a great goal in the first half tonight for Côte d'Ivoire v Burkino Faso in a knockout game.

Kobbie Mainoo no longer wants to leave Manure after Amorin is sacked https://www.caughtoffside.com/2026/01/06/man-united-star-changes-transfer-stance/

lol Romano going into Fichajes bullshit overdrive in this new year period

Incoming Chelsea boss Rosenior wants English star as his first signing at the club https://www.caughtoffside.com/2026/01/05/chelseat-want-english-star-signing-january/ Chelsea have moved quickly to usher in a new era, with Liam Rosenior set to be confirmed as the club’s new head coach, according to a trusted source on X. The appointment marks a decisive shift in direction at Stamford Bridge, with the club opting for a progressive, modern manager who has impressed across Europe with his work in player development and tactical organisation. Rosenior arrives with a clear vision and an immediate focus on stabilising Chelsea’s project following a turbulent period. Following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues are looking for someone who can take the club out of the current crisis and Rosenior, after his impressive work at Strasbourg, has reportedly won the race to become the new Blues boss. Chelsea could target January move for Marc Guéhi One of his first priorities is understood to be strengthening the defensive unit, and that has brought Marc Guéhi firmly into the spotlight as a potential January signing. The England international, currently captain of Crystal Palace, is highly regarded by Rosenior for his leadership, composure on the ball and ability to play in a high defensive line. Guéhi has long been admired across the Premier League, and Chelsea’s interest is not new. The defender is a former academy product at Stamford Bridge, and his development since leaving the club has only enhanced his reputation as one of the most consistent centre-backs in English football. With Palace aware of growing interest from elite clubs and Guéhi approaching a crucial stage of his contract, January could represent a pivotal moment. However, any deal is far from straightforward. Crystal Palace are under no pressure to sell cheaply and will demand an attractive offer to even consider letting their captain leave mid-season. Guéhi would transform the Blues defense Guéhi would represent more than just a defensive upgrade. He would be a crucial signing, someone capable of organising the back line, mentoring younger defenders and fitting seamlessly into a possession-based system that prioritises build-up from the back. Chelsea’s hierarchy are understood to be open to reinforcing the defence in January if the right opportunity presents itself, but they are equally prepared to wait until the summer if Palace’s valuation proves prohibitive. The Blues are expected to face competition from Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to sign the Palace centre-back.

I am 100 per cent backing him atm. I hope he does great things and elevates the club despite the board's too-often-poor decisions.

The BEST of KENAN YILDIZ | 20 Minutes of Goals & Skills | Showing Why He’s Special ✨

Sources: Chelsea turn attentions to Ivory Coast international winger https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/sources-Chelsea-turn-attentions-to There’s a new name on the Chelsea recruitment agenda right now, and it’s a player making waves out there in world football. We are into the January transfer window now, but you’d be forgiven if you had forgotten all about it due to everything else that has been going on at our club. Chelsea are seeking out any possible opportunities for January, and we could well see one or two new arrivals into the first team squad. We just have to wait and see on that, with the new manager, Liam Rosenior, arriving this week. But there’s a new name that has caught Chelsea’s attentions this week. SPTC Sources have been told that are stepping up scouting on RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old attacker can play on the left or on the right, and he has already earned 7 caps for Ivory Coast, scoring 2 goals along the way. He’s also bagged 7 goals in 16 appearances in Bundesliga this season so far, playing mostly off the left wing. Chelsea now have him on their radar and are pondering a potential move to try and sign him in the near future. It’s VERY unlikely that Leipzig will allow any sale mid-season, but clubs interested in Diomande are trying to be quick about it because both Tottenham and Manchester United have registered their interest in the player as well as Chelsea. He’s another rising talent that has a big future ahead of him. Chelsea have put themselves firmly in the mix now.

Chelsea owners know what to expect by hiring from within, but only results will win doubters over https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6941397/2026/01/05/Chelsea-rosenior-maresca-successor/ It took another Enzo to remind everyone connected to the fortunes of Chelsea that things are not that bleak, no matter who is in the dugout. Enzo Fernandez’s tap-in from close range to secure a well-deserved, albeit unexpected, point at Manchester City is just the medicine the club required after a very awkward few days. It was the first game Chelsea had played since parting company with head coach Enzo Maresca on January 1. His likely successor, Liam Rosenior, has arrived in London to officially hold talks over succeeding the Italian, albeit his current employer Strasbourg, who are owned by the same parent company (BlueCo) that call the shots at Stamford Bridge, will need to find a new man themselves before anything is finalised. The plan is to resolve Strasbourg’s predicament by Tuesday at the very latest, with sources — speaking anonymously to protect relationships — confirming that today (Monday) has been earmarked as a final decision day between three candidates. It means Rosenior’s first Chelsea game could be on Wednesday against his former club Fulham, where he was a player between 2003 and 2007. Reaction to his impending promotion in the football pyramid has attracted a lot of criticism from Chelsea fans and pundits. For a club associated with hiring leading coaches such as Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel during the Roman Abramovich era, the choice of Rosenior emphasises how much things have dramatically changed under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium. Rosenior has never managed in the Premier League and has overseen just over 150 games for Derby County, Hull City and Strasbourg without winning any silverware. His reputation has been growing, but it is hardly a track record normally associated with one of the most pressurised jobs in the sport. Chelsea have demonstrated on more than one occasion they do not care what the outside world thinks about how things should be done. The Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium has shown that with their extraordinary trading in the transfer market over the past three and a half years and commitment to long contracts despite the scrutiny. Rosenior’s likely appointment is attracting more pessimistic forecasts. To suggest the reaction from the fanbase is underwhelming is an understatement, too. Protests against the hierarchy in the away end were at a minimum at Etihad Stadium, but Abramovich’s name was sung on several occasions. Rosenior is in talks to succeed MarescaFrederic Dides/AFP via Getty Images But Strasbourg’s decision, with the obvious heavy influence of BlueCo, to hire Rosenior was with his development as a coach in mind, in a similar way that young Chelsea-owned players such as Andrey Santos, Mike Penders, Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr have worked on their trade during loan spells there. A pathway to Chelsea was always a possibility, albeit this has come a lot sooner than anyone would have thought. Strasbourg intentionally play the same system as Chelsea, as do the teams in Chelsea’s academy. The logic behind it is understandable as it limits the extent of the adaptation period for a player should they progress to Chelsea’s first team. The same can be said for coaches. The many questioning the thinking over Rosenior’s expected promotion were given an example of this with Calum McFarlane’s role over the last few days. McFarlane was hired as the club’s under-21s coach last summer but was only formally introduced to the first team squad a few days ago after being told he would be in charge for the Manchester City game following Maresca’s departure. While he knew some of the individuals, McFarlane was already fully up to speed with the style of play because the under-21s are instructed to use the same tactics during fixtures. Chelsea could not have faced City in much worse circumstances, given they were without four key first-team players in Moises Caicedo (suspended), Marc Cucurella (injury), Robert Sanchez (injury) and Wesley Fofana (illness), plus the obvious potential hangover from the Maresca drama and McFarlane being in charge of his first senior game. Chelsea fans celebrate after Fernandez’s goalOli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images McFarlane made a point afterwards of saying how captain Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo and Fernandez had stepped up to help galvanise the group. But McFarlane did not look out of place either, despite his clear inexperience compared to his counterpart Pep Guardiola. This was due to the fundamentals of the team’s playing style being the same as what he is used to at the academy level, just the stakes were a lot higher. Rosenior will be in the same situation, but permanently, should negotiations progress as expected. This is not to say it will be all straightforward and success is guaranteed, nor that the many doubting supporters will be won over instantly. But the adaptation period will not be as dramatic as if someone alien to the project took over instead. For months, Chelsea have been vetting candidates and/or coming up with contingency plans for the head coach role in case something happened with Maresca. A succession plan is normal practice for any club because the last thing you want to do is start from scratch when something like the drama of the last week at Stamford Bridge occurs. What You Should Read Next Forget managers – it’s the flawed strategy of Chelsea’s owners that is the problem After Enzo Maresca became the fifth Chelsea manager to leave since 2022, maybe it's time to scrutinise those appointing them Rosenior’s name was always going to be on it because of the Strasbourg connection. Bonds were going to be formed with the Chelsea hierarchy, given the relationship between the two clubs and how often Chelsea personnel attend Strasbourg games, as well as communicate with him regularly. But he holds a connection with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell (both Brighton) and Laurence Stewart (Hull City) from earlier in his career. This has to be considered an advantage for Rosenior too because he does not have to spend precious time getting to know people and how they and the club operate. When you have a busy run of midweek-weekend fixtures as Chelsea do over the next five weeks, you need every benefit you can get. Only good results will win doubters over. It is not going to be easy. But Chelsea’s performance at City under McFarlane underlined how there are talented players at Rosenior’s disposal and the spirit within the group remains strong in adversity. After all the acrimony comes a reminder that there is something for Maresca’s successor to build on. By Simon Johnson Chelsea Correspondent

Wrong forum. Please post that here: https://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/4510-give-us-feedbackbugs-thread/page/163/#comments

his subs worked better than Maresca's often did

amazing that will all this craziness this season we are still in a CL spot after 20 games

another good move was putting Gusto back at RB he is not good at LB

Reece was MOTM

that was a great sub Santos changed the dynamics