Football pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have expressed significant doubts over Chelsea's imminent appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with both suggesting the role may have come "too early" for the promising manager.
Sky Sports Pundits Voice Their Concerns
The criticism follows the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day, with Rosenior, currently in charge of French club Strasbourg, expected to be confirmed in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. The 41-year-old is scheduled to meet with the Chelsea hierarchy on Monday, with an appointment likely before Wednesday's crucial west London derby against Fulham.
While acknowledging Rosenior's potential, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was blunt in his assessment of what the former Hull City and Derby County boss can achieve at a club of Chelsea's stature. "I don't think it's an appointment that is going to push Chelsea on to win a major title," Carragher stated on Sky Sports.
He contrasted the expected appointment with Chelsea's historic tendency to hire elite, trophy-winning managers like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. "Chelsea Football Club and their supporters are not used to those appointments," Carragher added, suggesting Rosenior's primary target would be securing Champions League qualification rather than challenging for the Premier League or European crowns.
Neville Warns of Inexperience in Young Squad
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville echoed these concerns, focusing on the blend of a young manager with Chelsea's already youthful squad. Neville invoked the famous phrase from pundit Alan Hansen, arguing "you genuinely can't win anything with kids."
"Chelsea need some experience in and around the club," Neville insisted on his Sky Sports podcast. "If you have young players on the pitch I also think you need an experienced manager. But it looks like they are going to appoint another young manager again." He emphasised that young talents require authoritative guidance, which he implied an inexperienced manager might struggle to provide.
Background to the Managerial Shuffle
The managerial change comes after a period of tension between Maresca and the Chelsea board, which Carragher saw as inevitable. The Italian's exit was followed by a spirited 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday, with Enzo Fernandez scoring a late equaliser. Caretaker Calum McFarlane oversaw that match but will return to the U21s upon Rosenior's arrival.
Meanwhile, Strasbourg president Marc Keller has already begun interviewing replacements, having whittled down candidates to a final shortlist of three. Rosenior, a former EFL player with clubs including Fulham and Brighton, has remained publicly focused on his current role despite the intense speculation. "There's a lot of noise, a lot of speculation, but as a coach, if you get involved, you fail," he told local media recently.
The draw at the Etihad leaves Chelsea fifth in the Premier League table, just three points outside the Champions League places—a position that will likely define success for Rosenior's anticipated tenure, according to his critics.
