New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has moved to allay fears over the fitness of key stars Cole Palmer, Reece James and Malo Gusto after the trio missed the Blues' emphatic FA Cup third-round victory at Charlton Athletic.
Precautionary Absences Amid Busy Schedule
Rosenior enjoyed a dream start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge, overseeing a 5-1 win against the Championship side at The Valley. Goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez sealed a comprehensive victory and a place in the fourth round.
The strength of Chelsea's squad was highlighted by the fact Rosenior could introduce players of the calibre of Neto, Fernandez, Estevao and Liam Delap from the bench, while James, Palmer and Gusto were not involved in the matchday squad. The new boss confirmed their omissions were purely precautionary.
'Malo, Cole and Reece were precautionary today,' Rosenior stated in his post-match press conference. 'I don’t want to take any risks at this stage of the season.'
He explained that the players had picked up minor issues during the previous match against Fulham and, with a crucial run of fixtures on the horizon, he saw no need to risk their health. 'I feel like I’ve got such a good squad here, I don’t need to risk their health at the moment,' he added.
Focus Shifts to Carabao Cup Semi-Final
Rosenior's immediate focus is now on a huge week for the club, starting with the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at home to Arsenal on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday.
The manager said he would assess medical reports overnight and on Tuesday morning before making decisions on their availability. 'We have a huge game on Wednesday. We have a huge game on Saturday. And I’ll check the medical reports tonight and tomorrow morning and see how they are then,' Rosenior concluded.
Rosenior Delighted with 'Magnificent' Deant Win
The new Chelsea head coach was effusive in his praise for the players who secured his first win in charge. He was particularly pleased with the intensity of his team's pressing and their control of the game from the outset.
'I was very happy with the attitude of the team, even in the first-half,' he said. 'This is not an easy place to come, third round of the FA Cup. I felt our press was very intense and really good.'
Rosenior singled out several individuals for praise, including goalscorer Marc Guiu, who he described as 'magnificent', and Ale Garnacho for his persistent attacking play. He also hailed Jorrel Hato's spectacular volleyed opener as a 'fantastic finish'.
When asked about implementing his football philosophy, the pragmatic boss shifted focus to results. 'My idea of football is not important. It’s about winning games of football consistently,' Rosenior asserted. 'It’s a good start. It’s just the start and we have to stay consistent now in a very, very hectic schedule.'
Chelsea fans will now eagerly await team news for the pivotal Carabao Cup semi-final clash with London rivals Arsenal, hopeful that their key absentees will be fit to return.
