New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior opted to observe his team from the stands during their clash with Fulham to allow for proper tactical preparation before his official debut in the FA Cup.
Liam Rosenior officially began his tenure as Chelsea head coach yesterday, though he chose to watch the West London derby against Fulham from the stands rather than the dugout.
Despite traveling to Craven Cottage on the team bus, the 41-year-old left interim manager Calum McFarlane in charge for the 1-1 draw.
Rosenior, who recently arrived from Strasbourg, cited a lack of preparation time as the primary reason for delaying his touchline debut.
Explaining his decision to Sky Sports, Rosenior said: “It’s a difficult timeframe for me to get in the tactical work that I need to get into to give the lads the best chance to win.
I’ve got full faith in Calum and the lads.” He also praised McFarlane’s recent leadership against Manchester City, noting that the interim staff had “supported the lads in a really difficult moment in a really good way.”
The new coach witnessed a challenging match as Marc Cucurella was sent off before Fulham took a second-half lead.
Despite the difficult start, Rosenior remains focused on his long-term blueprint for the club, stating: “The most important thing for me is intensity, running, spirit, quality and you can do that in many different ways in football.”
He is now expected to take full command for Chelsea’s upcoming FA Cup tie against Charlton.