Chelsea Players' True Feelings About Liam Rosenior Exposed as Crisis Deepens

Chelsea right back Malo Gusto has declared that the squad wholeheartedly "believe" in Liam Rosenior, offering a passionate defense of a manager facing growing scrutiny and, from some quarters, unwarranted mockery.

Rosenior stepped in to replace Enzo Maresca at the start of the new year under dramatic circumstances. Brought in from Chelsea's affiliate club Strasbourg, the 41-year-old had previously managed only in the English second division. Early skepticism about Rosenior's credentials was eased by seven victories in his opening nine matches, with the only two losses coming against Premier League frontrunners Arsenal.

However, Chelsea "set fire to four points" with late goals conceded against newly promoted sides Leeds United and Burnley—in Rosenior's own words—before suffering another loss to Arsenal. Victories over Aston Villa and Wrexham followed, but the Blues stumbled into the March international break having lost four consecutive games, conceding 12 goals in that stretch.

With Chelsea falling behind in the battle for Champions League qualification, absent from European competition this season and dealing with persistent reports of key players seeking transfers, the heat on Rosenior has intensified significantly. Nevertheless, Gusto has firmly dismissed any talk of unrest within the squad.

"For us as a team, we have to believe in him, believe in the way we play, to stick to our plan and see how it goes," the French international told ESPN. "He is a good person, he is really honest, really simple, you can see that he is really passionate.

"He wants to share it with us his passion for football and I feel like I want to play for him, I want to show my best when he puts me on the pitch."

Gusto Questions Rosenior Criticism

It is notable that Gusto is so eager to speak highly of Rosenior despite not being a nailed-on starter under the new manager. While most players favor those who select them regularly, the right back was still prepared to champion a boss who has handed more playing time to 10 of his teammates since arriving in January.

Gusto may harbor no ill will toward Rosenior, but plenty of outside observers have been quick to find fault with the English coach. "I think he is a top coach, I saw that a lot of people criticized him," the Frenchman reflected.

When asked whether he understood the criticism, Gusto responded: "Not really.

"I have worked with him a lot since he joined Chelsea. I think he is a top person first of all, a top manager as well and as you say, he is young. He is a lot of things for the future, but if he is the Chelsea manager it is because he has the talent for this."

Chelsea's Premier League Record Under Liam Rosenior

Rosenior has faced as much criticism for his behavior off the pitch as for his actual results. Every mildly inspirational remark from "LinkedIn Liam"—as he has been unkindly labeled—has been picked apart relentlessly, while his fashion choices, eyewear and even his ball control have drawn entirely undeserved ridicule.

Before Enzo Fernández became preoccupied with putting himself in the transfer spotlight this summer, he praised Rosenior as a "great coach." Cole Palmer echoed that view, enthusing earlier this season: "Life under Liam is amazing, he gives us all confidence. Lets us be ourselves, play free."

As Gusto summed up: "We just have to trust the process."

How Chelsea Squad Reacted to Enzo Maresca Exit

Like most of the football world, Gusto had no inkling that Maresca's dismissal on New Year's Day was coming.

"It was a bit complicated for us in the middle of the season when Enzo Maresca was sacked," the full back recalled. "So a new coach coming in now, it was a big change I think for the team, everyone was surprised to be honest. But in football that can happen, so we had to adapt."

That adjustment has not always gone smoothly.

Rosenior has steadily attempted to mold the team to his vision, most notably implementing a slightly modified pressing system that broke down badly in the 1–0 defeat to Newcastle United earlier this month.

"Before the international break it was a tough few weeks for us in terms of results because that is not what we expected," Gusto admitted. "Against PSG, there were a few games in the Premier League against Newcastle and Everton as well that we lost.

"It is a bit hard [changing system], when you start to understand one and then right away you have to change to another one, it is maybe a little bit more [difficult] for us because we have a little less experience."