Liam Rosenior’s tenure as Chelsea manager officially gets underway with a demanding English FA Cup third-round encounter away to Charlton Athletic, a fixture that offers both opportunity and early pressure for the new man at the helm.
At 41, Rosenior steps into his first competitive match in charge fully aware that patience is rarely extended at Stamford Bridge. While Chelsea enter the tie as clear favourites on paper, cup history is littered with reminders that reputations count for little on the pitch. A misstep at The Valley against Championship opposition would instantly amplify scrutiny around a coach still establishing himself at one of England’s most scrutinised clubs.
Rosenior’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. His most recent spell in English football ended in disappointment last May, when Hull City’s 1–0 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle extinguished their Championship play-off hopes. Shortly afterwards, he was dismissed, bringing a challenging season to a close and seemingly stalling his upward momentum.
At that stage, a move to Chelsea would have appeared highly unlikely. However, Rosenior revitalised his career overseas, taking charge of Strasbourg and steering the Ligue 1 side to an impressive seventh-place finish last season. His progressive style and calm authority earned praise across France, and his success at a club linked to Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, placed him firmly on the radar as one of Europe’s most exciting emerging coaches.
Even so, his appointment followed the unexpected departure of Enzo Maresca, adding an element of surprise to Chelsea’s decision. Now, Rosenior finds himself under the microscope, with every tactical call, selection choice and in-game adjustment likely to be closely examined by supporters and pundits alike.
The FA Cup opener also carries personal significance. Rosenior’s father, former England international Leroy Rosenior, represented Charlton Athletic during the 1990s, adding an emotional layer to the occasion.
Speaking ahead of the match, Rosenior made it clear that results, not sentiment, will define his spell at the club. “This opportunity coming at this stage of my career is special,” he said, “but my focus isn’t just on being Chelsea manager — it’s on being a winning Chelsea manager. We have to start strongly and build momentum for the rest of the season.”
Charlton, currently sitting 19th in the Championship, will approach the tie with nothing to lose and everything to gain. For Rosenior, however, the message is clear: a positive start is essential, as any early stumble would quickly fuel doubts among his critics.
FA Cup Third Round Fixtures
Today, Thursday, January 9
- MK Dons vs Oxford United (20:30)
- Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic (20:30)
- Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest (20:30)
- Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town (20:30)
Saturday, January 10
- Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace (13:15)
- Everton vs Sunderland (13:15)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town (13:15)
- Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City (13:15)
- Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton (16:00)
- Stoke City vs Coventry City (16:00)
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford (16:00)
- Newcastle United vs Bournemouth (16:00)
- Fulham vs Middlesbrough (16:00)
- Ipswich Town vs Blackpool (16:00)
- Manchester City vs Exeter City (16:00)
- Burnley vs Millwall (16:00)
- Boreham Wood vs Burton Albion (16:00)
- Salford City vs Swindon Town (16:00)
- Cambridge United vs Birmingham City (18:45)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa (18:45)
- Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare (18:45)
- Bristol City vs Watford (18:45)
- Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea (21:00)
Sunday, January 11
- Derby County vs Leeds United (13:00)
- Portsmouth vs Arsenal (15:00)
- Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers (15:30)
- Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion (15:30)
- Norwich City vs Walsall (15:30)
- West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers (15:30)
- Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town (15:30)
- Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion (17:30)
Monday, January 12
- Liverpool vs Barnsley (20:45)
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