13 Apr 2026 13:01:48
Chelsea dressing room sources indicate a growing disconnect between several players and the manager, with doubts emerging over his tactical direction and in-game decision-making.

While there remains a level of professionalism within the squad, belief in the project appears fractured, particularly among key figures who feel the team lacks a clear identity in crucial moments.

There is also a sense that constant changes in selection, combined with inconsistent performances, have made it difficult for players to fully buy into the manager's ideas.

Some members of the squad are understood to be frustrated with the lack of structure both in and out of possession, which has translated into poor results in decisive games.

Although the club hierarchy continues to back the manager publicly, the internal mood suggests that unless performances improve quickly, maintaining full dressing room support could become an even greater challenge in the coming weeks.

1.) 13 Apr 2026
13 Apr 2026 15:02:28
Probably from the same people who said the players had asked for the Enzo ban to be lifted.

2.) 13 Apr 2026
13 Apr 2026 15:40:43
We have opened ourselves up to a media frenzy. Stand by for "Chelsea in crisis".

This is all down to the SDs/owners bringing in an inexperienced coach.

What's needed is somebody in charge who knows what they are doing, not a private equity business.

3.) 13 Apr 2026
13 Apr 2026 16:01:40
I agree with you, Bill. The media will be stoking the fires for sure, and hopefully the owners get the message that Liam needs to go, and so does the sporting director who appointed him. The model will only work if the core of quality players are kept, and added to with both experienced quality and a proper, decent head coach. Squad wise, you need 3 segments. First segment of 8 or 9 top players who play most games; we probably have 7. The second segment, another 8 or 9 players who are not quite at the top level but are pushing on the door; we probably have 6 players.

And then the final segment will be made up of squad fillers, young prospects from the academy, and players brought in from elsewhere, and we probably have about 14 in this area. That is what needs balancing. It is actually not far off, but someone now needs to grab the bull by the horns and shape our destiny before those core players in segment one move on.

4.) 13 Apr 2026
13 Apr 2026 16:28:44
Just for clarity, I think these players fit into Segment 1.

Marc Cucurella
Reece James
Moises Caicedo
Enzo Fernandez
Joao Pedro
Cole Palmer
Levi Colwill

Segment 2.

Romeo Lavia
Pedro Neto
Trevor Chalobah
Robert Sanchez
Wesley Fofana
Malo Gusto

Segment 3.

Josh Achempong
Hato
Estevao
Essugo
Santos
Gittens
Garnacho
Santos
Delap
Guiu
Malang Sarr
Teddy Sharman Lowe
Jorgensen
Tyrique George
Jessy Derry.

5.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 06:15:13
There's plenty of reports that the owners recognise the less than ideal situation Rosenior finds himself in, having to take over part way through a season, with no pre-season etc. But, if that is recognised, and they do/did genuinely rate him so highly, why put him in that position now? RA was well known for having his patience on a short fuse when it came to form and league position. Managers would often be gone part way through a season. But, at least he recognised that wasn't the time to bring the next permanent manager in, with it often being the experienced Hiddink asked to steady the ship till the end of the season.

Rosenior was on the back foot from the beginning, the fans didn't/don't want him, a fair few of the players probably had to google him when they found out he was going to be head coach, and likely weren't that impressed with what they saw.

But, worst of all, they took him from a decent role, where he was comfortable and doing a good job at his current level, and chucked him into this firestorm. A fast start was never going to be enough for him, he had to be perfect till the end of the season and, obviously, he hasn't been.

They have to stick with him till the end of the season now, but I can't see any sense in him staying on beyond that. The head coach position at Chelsea certainly isn't becoming an easier sale.

6.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 08:58:37
Great post, J.

7.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 09:19:39
J, I couldn't agree more. From the outside, there seemed no need for EM to leave mid-season.
The problem is we have no idea how bad the relationship had become. Also, we don't know if EM just asked to be released immediately.

I think LR will start next season as our manager.

8.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 12:30:34
Tom, I think we'll pick up 8 points between now and the end of the season. That certainly won't be good enough for UCL qualification and might only be good for another trip aboard the Conference League bus! I also don't think it'll be good enough for LR to keep his job.

The FA Cup is about the only thing that could save him, which would be papering over the cracks and this vicious hiring/firing circle will keep on turning.

9.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 14:00:14
J, this is definitely the wrong way for me to look at the manager issues, but I just can't see them sacking another manager so soon after appointing him. Yes, we have done it before, but another sacking doesn't look good without giving the guy a pre season.

10.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 14:47:47
Nor does crashing down the table. Tom, the team have no confidence and the morale is low.

11.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 15:45:17
I'm sure they won't want to sack him. I'm sure the SDs and everyone else who vouched for his appointment will be desperately pushing for him to be retained. But there's just nothing to cling onto with Rosenior, no light at the end of the tunnel, despite a lack of top level European football qualification.

I don't see the lack of a pre-season as justification for just how badly things have turned out since his appointment.

12.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 16:39:37
They knew all this before they appointed LR, and still they went ahead. My gut feel is they will give him a pre season and about ten games before they review the situation again.

13.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 16:41:30
Tom, it has been an absolute catastrophe since Liam was appointed, and we are in total freefall. The players' confidence is shot to pieces. How on earth can anyone justify he stays?

14.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 18:38:13
Greenaway, I'm only guessing, but I would assume the people who appointed him will
recommend he stays. It could well be that would be the only decision they can make to save face.

15.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 20:24:05
So, Tom,

What you are saying is the SDs do not have the club's best interests at heart, instead they just want to save face.

Great that we have these people in charge of recruitment.

16.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 21:04:53
Bill, I am definitely not saying that the SDs and owners don't have the best interests of the club at heart.
There is zero reason to suggest they deliberately employ managers or players that don't work out. That idea would be frankly ridiculous.

17.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 22:14:45
Tom,

You said earlier that you thought the SDs will keep KR to save face, therefore they do not have the best interests of the club at heart, only their own.

18.) 14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026 22:34:16
Bill, my theory is the SDs and owners did employ LR because they want what they consider to be best for Chelsea.

As far as "saving face" is concerned, then, yes, I do think that the decision makers will give LR every opportunity to change things around, rather than admit another costly error.

19.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 09:01:03
People with the club's best interest at heart would always admit to an error, and rectify it asap, which should be the end of the season.

20.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 09:22:26
In my opinion, the club have been making managerial errors since Conte, and I didn't want him as our manager either.

My assumption is that every person who has been responsible for all the managerial hires has done so with the best intentions.

21.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 09:44:57
Tom

I agree that all hiring is done with best intentions. However, the issue is keeping a coach who is responsible for players' loss of confidence and morale. I would suggest they are not acting with the club's best interests at heart.

22.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 10:18:27
Bill, I haven't got a clue about players' loss of morale and confidence. Certainly, both are fragile commodities, but can come back with a few positive results.

Last season, with about ten games left of the season, we had posters using the same cliches as they are now.

We finished that season on a positive note, and that should show how quickly things can change.

Let's also not forget that, under all ownerships, mistakes are made, and things do not always get better.

23.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 13:48:06
There surely is going to have to come a time where our owners/sporting directors say this approach isn't working.

Rosenior has to go. The only way the sporting directors could save face is by letting him go and apologising to the fans for making a huge error.

Like others have said, players have completely lost confidence in him, and what he comes out and says is just bizarre.

Every club that has won the league recently or the Champions League has had an experienced manager leading them. We need to follow the data of success.

24.) 15 Apr 2026
15 Apr 2026 14:07:44
Whitey, you may well be right about an experienced manager being an important attribute with such a young squad.

I just can't see the SD's or owners pulling the plug anytime soon.

25.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 08:28:57
Then the plug should be pulled on them, Tom.

26.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 08:44:29
Bill, I may well be wrong, but I seem to remember reading they (SD's) have had their contracts extended.

27.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 16:22:04
Tom

Coaches get 6 year contracts, but that does not stop them being sacked.

28.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 16:53:23
Bill, anyone can get sacked. A bit like LR, I can't see any of the SDs getting sacked, having just been given a vote of confidence with a contract extension.