Bobby Vincent, football.london: Liam Rosenior’s early challenges at Chelsea

football.london’s Bobby Vincent has outlined some of the challenges facing new Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior, after he replaced former boss Enzo Maresca.

Rosenior arrived in west London from French side Strasbourg earlier this month, inheriting a Blues side still well placed across multiple competitions but searching for consistency and confidence.

Brentford's visit to their local rivals on Saturday (3pm kick-off) is Rosenior's first game in the Stamford Bridge dugout, where he will undoubtedly be looking to get off to a winning start.

Chelsea are eighth in the Premier League going into Saturday’s west London derby. First of all, on the pitch, what have you made of what you’ve seen in the first half of the season?

It has been disappointing, in truth. There has not been any progress from last season, which is always disappointing to see.

Chelsea have been too inconsistent. They are able to get themselves up for the games against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, but have dropped too many points to sides they should be beating.

On New Year’s Day, Enzo Maresca left after 18 months in charge at Stamford Bridge. Relationships behind the scenes appeared fraught in the lead up to his departure, so did it come as a surprise, in any way?

In the end, it was not too much of a surprise, given how quickly Enzo Maresca’s relationship with the club deteriorated. But if you were to take it back a month before his departure, then it would come as a big shock.

As soon as Maresca came out with the “worst 48 hours” comment, it appeared to be the start of the end for the former head coach.

Liam Rosenior has been appointed as the Italian’s successor on a deal running until the summer of 2032. What has the response been like to his arrival from Strasbourg?

A lot of the Chelsea supporters were upset to see Maresca leave, and that has led to discontent over how the club is being run.

There does not seem to be a problem with Liam Rosenior, though, and supporters chanted his name after the win at Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup last weekend.

However, he does face a big task - as any incoming Chelsea head coach does - of winning the supporters over.

Which player should Brentford be keeping an eye on on Saturday?

Liam Delap has been in good form recently. It has been a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea’s new no.9 but, in recent matches, he has looked a lot sharper.

He has a history with Rosenior - having played under him during a loan spell at Hull in 2023/24 - which will help him.

If he starts on Saturday, then he could cause some problems for Brentford’s defenders. He is a real nuisance.

What should Keith Andrews’ men expect from the Blues in terms of shape and style?

Nothing too dissimilar to how Maresca set up. Rosenior likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, but that shape quickly changes to almost a 3-2-2-3 when Chelsea have the ball.

One of the full-backs, usually the left-back, will advance up the pitch and slot into one of the no.10 roles.

Rosenior is trying to make the Blues more intense, but in terms of possession, he wants his side to be controlled and patient in their build-up.

There have been three draws and one Chelsea win in the last four meetings. What’s your score prediction this time around?

Brentford are in really good form, so it will be tricky for Chelsea. This season, this type of game has proved difficult for the Blues.

However, with it being Rosenior’s first league match, he will be desperate to get off to a good start. I expect Chelsea to win, but not comfortably.

I will go 2-1 to Chelsea.

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