Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior accepts he will be under scrutiny as he prepares for Champions League bow - but age will not define Stamford Bridge reign

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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior believes there are pros and cons to being a young head coach, and insists what matters remains being the best fit for the job. Rosenior's arrival at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca's successor at the age of 41 has been viewed by some as a risk given his relative inexperience, but the man himself is not concerned by those who have questioned his managerial acumen.

Rosenior: My job to unlock huge potential within Chelsea squad

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Liam Rosenior is relishing the prospect of taking his place among Europe's managerial elite, but insists that Chelsea's pursuit of continental silverware depends on blocking out the noise surrounding his own credentials at Stamford Bridge.

The 41-year-old admits the past few weeks have passed in a blur, even if they have felt considerably longer, with Wednesday’s home clash against Cypriot champions Pafos - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - marking his first match as a manager in the UEFA Champions League.

Having already impressed during Strasbourg's UEFA Conference League campaign, Rosenior is less concerned with personal milestones than with the immediate task of steering Chelsea closer to qualification for the last 16.

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The Blues have taken 10 points from their opening six league fixtures but sit 13th ahead of the penultimate round of matches - two points adrift of the top eight and the automatic route into the knockout stage.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, Rosenior said: "It's always been an ambition of mine to manage at the very highest level, so for me personally it's a great thing. But the job is not about me; the job is about winning the game tomorrow night.

"That's what I'm really focused on. I can have good memories, hopefully in the future, but you have to create those memories. My job now is to focus on the team, focus on our performances and make sure we keep winning games of football.

Highlights: Chelsea put five past Charlton as Rosenior makes bow

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"I think if you focus too much on the noise surrounding what the competition is or anything like that, you're not doing the job to the best of your ability."

Only nine days on from replacing Enzo Maresca, Rosenior is preparing for his fourth game in less than a fortnight and has already been struck by the commitment of a squad navigating challenging circumstances.

"The biggest thing I learned about them was their humility, their willingness to learn something new, their engagement in meetings," he continued.

"It's been a really, really tough time for them. They've had a change of manager, and there are a lot of games. For them to have a different manager come in with a different voice, a few different ideas, takes a lot of work as well as playing the games, and I've been delighted with their application.

"They're a really good group of people in terms of their care for each other and how much they want to achieve, and it's my job to unlock their potential, which is huge. If I do that, I think we'll be onto a really good thing."

Chelsea will be without Tosin Adarabioyo for the visit of Pafos, while Enzo Fernandez will also be assessed after playing through illness in the recent 2-0 win over Brentford. Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Estevao have all previously been affected by the bug that has swept through the squad.

Chelsea doctors doing everything to contain virus - Rosenior

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Managing workloads across multiple competitions is, Rosenior believes, part of the territory - as is scrutiny over his age and experience.

"To be an older manager has strengths, but to be a younger manager also has strengths," he said. "It's basically about how you work with the players and if they buy into you and your ideas.

"It's not about your age - it's about many different aspects. People are going to judge you. If I were 20 years older, they'd say I'm too old.

"If I'm my age now, they'll say I'm too young. The reality is you have to win games of football, and you have to perform well. And that's what my focus is on doing.

"It's not about being a young manager. It's about being the right manager. Young managers can have completely different personalities. The strengths of being a young manager, I think, is too broad a question. I think it's about being the right manager for the right group of players. I feel I am.

"I already feel even better since I've come in about the connections I've made with the group in terms of the understanding of the way that we want to play. But it's about how we perform on the pitch."

Reports that Rosenior has used Lego as a team-bonding exercise - or that he avoids gloves in training so players can hear him clap - have added to the intrigue around his methods.

The Chelsea head coach is unconcerned, so long as those marginal gains translate into results.

"I'm going to be judged - it's normal. I'm going to be judged before we play," he added.

"I'm going to be judged during the time that we play. I'm going to be judged after we play. That comes with the territory, and I expected this. I knew what I was walking into, but I've enjoyed it, and I'll enjoy it even more if and when we're successful."

Delap hopeful Rosenior can instil winning mentality

Rosenior has also been reunited with Liam Delap, having previously worked with the striker during a loan spell at Hull City.

Delap scored eight goals in 31 Championship appearances during the 2023/24 season under Rosenior, as Hull narrowly missed out on the play-offs. Now reunited at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior is keen to refine the forward’s strengths as a traditional No. 9.

"It was the same then as it is now, which is nice," Rosenior said. "He's a great kid. I've known about Liam, my assistant Justin [Walker] worked with him since I think he was 13, 14 years old.

Delap celebrates scoring in the recent 2-1 defeat at Fulham

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"When we brought him to Hull, he was in a difficult phase of his career, but we always knew what a top player could be. So to be a part of his journey and then meet him again here at this level is great. But there are a lot of improvements in Liam's game, and his potential is scary.

"I'm really, really looking forward to helping him become the best player he can be."

Delap's rise has been rapid since his £15m move from Manchester City to Ipswich Town in 2024. His physical, fearless displays ensured he would not be returning to the Championship following relegation, with a standout performance against Chelsea convincing the club to invest £30m in his signature.

Injuries and suspension have disrupted his season, but the striker is determined to make up for lost time.

Liam Rosenior and Liam Delap during a training session

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"It's obviously been tough," Delap told TNT Sports. "I've had a few injuries, which is always hard because you just want to get going and be in the team and get that rhythm.

"It's been hard, but I'm back now, and hopefully I can stay back. [Working previously with Rosenior at Hull] was really good for me. I think I'd had two loans before that, and they didn't quite go so well.

"But he was really good, and his staff really helped me develop because I was still a kid and I was just getting used to men's football. So I learned a lot from them. I enjoyed the way he played. His staff talked through the game a lot and helped tell you what you needed to improve.

"The manager has proved everywhere that he's been that he can do well and win games of football. We're here at Chelsea, and playing is important, but winning is the main factor. Hopefully, he can bring that winning mentality into our group."

Known for playing on the edge, Delap has picked up bookings against Aston Villa and Manchester City in recent weeks, but has no intention of losing the aggression that defines his game.

"I think I'll always be the same," he added. "I was a nightmare when I was a kid. I still have my moments where I probably go over the edge, but if I took that away from me, I wouldn't be the same player.

"Obviously, there are times where I can control it and be sensible and smart about it, but I would never ever lose that because I'll lose my edge, lose my fire a little bit.

"I've learnt and matured, but I'm still young, so I'm still learning, and I've got a lot of development left to do. Of course, I need to continue to work on it, but I think it's something that's just going to come naturally and mature as I get older."

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