New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior enjoyed a perfect start as the Blues thrashed Charlton 5-1 in the FA Cup third round at The Valley
CHELSEA’s new manager Liam Rosenior enjoyed the perfect start to his reign as the Blues thrashed Charlton 5-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Jorrel Hato bagged his first goal for Chelsea late in the first half at The Valley and Tosin Adarabioyo doubled the visitors’ lead soon after the interval.
Although Miles Leaburn got one back, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez scored to ensure Rosenior coasted to a debut victory against a Championship side.
Hired from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, Rosenior fulfilled his wish to “hit the ground running” by ending Chelsea’s five-match winless run.
Rosenior will face a sterner test in his first home game on Wednesday when Chelsea host Premier League leaders Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
The 41-year-old has had to deal with claims that he has been selected to be a ‘yes-man’ for Chelsea’s hierarchy after Maresca’s turbulent reign.
The fact that Strasbourg are part of the same ownership group as Chelsea only increased suspicions about Rosenior’s autonomy.
Standing on the touchline, Rosenior looked more like a young college lecturer than a Premier League manager.
But he had earned a reputation as a bright young coach by leading unheralded Strasbourg to a seventh place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Having appealed for time to prove he is “worthy” of managing Chelsea, Rosenior made eight changes for his debut and left Cole Palmer out.
He stuck to his principles, sending Chelsea out with the same three-man defence he favoured at Strasbourg.
Hato’s looping header was clutched by Charlton keeper Will Mannion, who was at full stretch again moments later to repel Jamie Gittens’ strike.
Blues supporters remained unconvinced, chanting the name of former owner Roman Abramovich and urging Rosenior to “attack, attack, attack”.
They got their wish as Hato put Chelsea ahead in first half stoppage-time with a half-volley that whistled into the top corner.
Chelsea were in complete command when Adarabioyo struck in the 50th minute, meeting a free-kick with a thumping header.
Leaburn, a former Chelsea academy graduate, reduced the deficit seven minutes later from close-range.
But Guiu eased any Rosenior anxiety in the 62nd minute when he lashed home from 10 yards.
Neto made it four with a predatory finish in the 91st minute and Fernandez stroked in a penalty with the last kick of the game.
