Liam Rosenior Fires Back: Why Chelsea Critics Have Got It Completely Wrong
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior defended his cautious tactical setup against Arsenal in Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final loss by citing last-minute player withdrawals and criticizing retrospective analysis from commentators.
Rosenior later acknowledged that the Blues intentionally adopted a defensive stance to weather pressure during the opening hour before attempting to transform the match into a frantic final 30 minutes. Chelsea successfully endured the limited attacking threat from their opponents but couldn't secure the crucial goal, with Kepa Arrizabalaga only required to make two routine stops.
This surprising tactical choice drew harsh criticism from multiple analysts who highlighted that Chelsea entered the second leg already behind on aggregate following a 3–2 loss at Stamford Bridge three weeks prior. Ultimately, Arsenal managed to score in a match that barely warranted a goal, with ex-Chelsea record purchase Kai Havertz delivering the decisive blow during injury time.
Following the loss—only Rosenior's second defeat in eight matches—the criticism was widespread.
Chelsea 'Go Out With a Whimper'
Chelsea 'Go Out With a Whimper'
Liam Rosenior may have discovered a method to neutralize Arsenal's corner kick danger, but the Gunners will inevitably find their breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/aSN9294Yq4
"I'm stunned," Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson exclaimed. "I cannot fathom what I just witnessed. Chelsea aren't a relegation-battling side. They possess World Cup champions.
"[Wesley] Fofana is in tears. He has every right to be upset because they never showed ambition. They've been eliminated without a fight in a semi-final. The approach failed. Exit with honor, not like this."
"They operated at half-speed. This is a cup semi-final," the former Arsenal player complained.
Merson's co-pundit Jamie Redknapp echoed similar sentiments. "If you had arrived today without knowing the scoreline, you would have assumed Chelsea were ahead, given their approach with six defenders, playing conservatively and hoping to strike on the break," the former Liverpool player worried. "In a semi-final, you must be aggressive."
Cole Palmer and Estêvão entered as substitutes for the closing half-hour but couldn't influence proceedings. Redknapp suggested that Alejandro Garnacho provided a negative impact. "Those final few minutes exemplified Chelsea's confusion," he lamented. "Garnacho played for 15 or 20 minutes. He consistently chose backward and sideways passes."
Rosenior: It's Easy to Be a Pundit
Rosenior: It's Easy to Be a Pundit
When confronted with this criticism during his post-match media session, Rosenior responded with a chuckle. "I've worked as a pundit, it's simple with hindsight," he retorted. "If I choose to attack aggressively and press high up the pitch, people will question my decisions.
"You can play away from home, press across the field, go one-on-one and you might take a 2–0 lead or fall 2–0 behind. I believed the mental element of this tie was crucial. After 60 minutes, I introduced Cole [Palmer] and Estêvão and the match became more open with opportunities near their penalty area."
"The truth about my role," Rosenior wisely observed, "is that losing brings criticism. Winning makes you brilliant. Usually, it's something in the middle."
Both Legs of Carabao Cup Semi-Final Littered With Issues for Chelsea
Both Legs of Carabao Cup Semi-Final Littered With Issues for Chelsea
Rosenior emphasized that his skipper Reece James and primary winger Pedro Neto both failed final medical assessments, compelling him to finalize his unconventional starting eleven on match day rather than his preferred day-before announcement.
The former Strasbourg manager suggested these missing players forced him into a three-defender formation, led by João Pedro with Liam Delap uncomfortably positioned on the right flank.
When questioned about the first leg, Rosenior emphasized that his squad had been battling illness after he'd been in charge for merely four days.
"It's not making excuses, it's stating facts."
Rosenior's Tactics Defended by Arsenal
Rosenior's Tactics Defended by Arsenal
Despite facing significant criticism, Rosenior received support from his Arsenal opposite number. Mikel Arteta praised Chelsea as "an excellently coached" squad that tested his team thoroughly.
"We understood we would need to play multiple matches within this encounter," Arteta explained. "Particularly since they immediately altered their structure and adopted a different approach."
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice offered equally generous praise. "Respect to Chelsea honestly," the former Blues youth player told ITV. "Since their new coach arrived, they've been extremely impressive.
"They modified their system tonight and created difficulties for us. On a different evening, they might have found the net, but fair play to our backline, they were outstanding."