Liam Rosenior hit out at the “indefensible”, “unacceptable” and “unprofessional” performance of his Chelsea players in two separate interviews after their 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
The Blues were well beaten from start to finish in a woeful display, falling behind to Ferdi Kadioglu’s third-minute opener from a corner, before second-half goals from Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck sealed the win for the Seagulls.
Chelsea failed to register a shot on target and did not even muster a tackle until the 32nd minute as their season hit a new low and led to head coach Liam Rosenior facing chants from the away end to be sacked.
An annoyed and unimpressed Rosenior did not hold back in his post-match interview with Sky Sports’ Johnny Phillips and then doubled down on the criticism of his players in his post-match presser. Read every word below…
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Brighton and Chelsea
Was it the worst result of the lot?
“By far. By far. Was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.”
Why did it happen?
“Why? We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, spirit was lacking – determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.”
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Liam Rosenior apologises to fans with players following Chelsea’s defeat against Brighton, their fifth successive in the Premier League
Was it coming from the start?
“The first goal was terrible. We had an easy header and missed the header. The passage before the first goal upset me even more. We had four or five moments to show moral courage, and take the ball down and play. We just kicked the ball back to Brighton.
“You can speak about a lack of confidence, or results not going our way. That doesn’t represent anything that I want to see, and I won’t ever see it again.
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.”
Did the players throw the towel in?
“You have to ask the players. If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change, starting with the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.”
On Chelsea being out-run in every single league game this season…
“I don’t want to go into that right now. I have my own thoughts, my own feelings. I have discussed in depth about this football club -regardless of who is the manager – about what needs to happen at this football club for it to be where it needs to be.
“It’s about this football club, Chelsea represents fight, spirit and determination. That was lacking in every department this evening.”
On if injuries are part of it…
“We’ve had injuries. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality. That team we put out today was far better than its engagement in the game. I will pick a team that will represent the club in the correct manner.”
On if Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Leeds is massive…
“This was a huge game and we didn’t hit anywhere near the mark. Every game between now and the end of the season is a huge game, and it needs to look like that in the way we play.”
On if the players are bereft of confidence…
“That’s your opinion, I have to see it with the staff. We have to make sure we get it right for Sunday.”
On the fans chanting for him to leave the club…
“I understand their frustration and it’s my job as the head coach and the manager of the football club. The buck stops with me.
“I have thick skin and I understand why the fans are frustrated. I’m frustrated with the performances we’re putting in. I’ve just got to keep working hard with the staff, with the players, but what I do need to do is really look at how we go about games, how the personnel of the team, who I can trust and rely on in difficult moments because not enough players showed that today in the game.
“I’m an emotional person. That’s just unacceptable. The word is unacceptable.
“We lost 80 per cent of duels. We didn’t win a header. Two of the goals come when we can head the ball, the basics of football. At any level, if you make those errors and lack of engagement to the game, you’re not going to win games of football.”
On whether he has lost the Chelsea dressing room…
“Whether it’s playing for me, it’s not about playing for me.
“It’s about playing for the club. It’s about playing for the shirt. It’s about playing to win games of football. I can only speak on what I saw tonight. You can read anything into it that you want, whether they’re playing for me or not. That performance in itself was damning.
“It stood everything against what I believe in.
“We’ll find out [if the players will react]. I haven’t criticised them up to now.
“I’ve defended them. They’ve deserved that.
“I always come out here and tell the truth and I blame myself as well. It’s not just blaming the players. I’m part of that process.
“I always said I will be honest and I’ve been honest with the players and I’m honest with you as honest as I can. I’m not throwing anyone under the bus.
“We’re playing for Chelsea and I’m managing Chelsea. The criticism and pressure comes with the football club. So if you can’t handle that, then you shouldn’t be here. It’s as simple as that. And that’s something that needs to be addressed this week. But it also needs to be addressed in the long term.”
