Confusing tactical instructions, discontent over Enzo Fernandez's ban and a barrage of calamities: The truth behind Liam Rosenior's Chelsea downfall - and how stars REALLY feel about John Terry wanting to coach the team
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Liam Rosenior might be counting his blessings for not having ventured into house-hunting in Surrey during his brief 106-day tenure at Chelsea. As he prepares to check out of his hotel near the Cobham training ground, he might feel as if he’s been living out a scene from a comedic sitcom like Fawlty Towers.

Chelsea is no stranger to drama, often peppered with a touch of humor, and Rosenior’s short-lived stint at Stamford Bridge was no exception, filled with some rather absurd incidents.

One memorable episode involved Chelsea players surrounding referee Paul Tierney during a match against Newcastle, only to suffer a defeat. Rosenior later explained that their intent was simply to ‘respect the ball.’ Unfortunately, the team failed to score even a single goal in the Premier League after that incident.

In another chapter, Enzo Fernandez openly entertained the idea of joining Real Madrid, leading to a two-game suspension from Chelsea. Yet, he soon found himself wearing the captain’s armband once more.

There was also the encounter where Rosenior was less than pleased with an Arsenal coach encroaching on Chelsea’s side during pre-match warm-ups. Adding to the chaos, Rosenior misjudged a ball dropping from the sky in that same defeat.

Liam Rosenior endured a calamitous 106 days in charge of Chelsea before he was sacked

Liam Rosenior endured a calamitous 106 days in charge of Chelsea before he was sacked 

The Blues did not score a single Premier League goal after apparently 'respecting the ball' when Paul Tierney was caught in their huddle

The Blues did not score a single Premier League goal after apparently ‘respecting the ball’ when Paul Tierney was caught in their huddle

Then there’s the curious case involving Marc Cucurella’s barber, who inadvertently disclosed team information before Chelsea’s clash with Brighton. It seems the barber took ‘share the sides’ a bit too literally, and this miscommunication became a defining moment for Rosenior’s brief era.

We could go on naming the silly side stories that were both inflicted upon and caused by Rosenior, but that trip to the Amex Stadium was where it all imploded internally, with Chelsea’s sporting leadership team led by Behdad Eghbali watching stony-faced from the stands.

Before then, club sources had been insisting Rosenior would stick around, even if he failed to secure Champions League football. BlueCo had brought him in from Strasbourg, where he was still learning, at the risk of upsetting the other club they own and their supporters. They had sympathy for the fact he had not overseen a pre-season and inherited a challenging situation, which included several key players picking up injuries.

However, Brighton knew in advance that the visitors would be without Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, thanks to Cucurella’s barber. Rosenior switched to a back-five system – the last act of many a desperate manager – and Chelsea’s performance was tellingly pathetic.

From the outside looking in, it smacked of players no longer playing for their head coach. The away end had been singing for Rosenior to ‘f*** off’ and at full-time, Fernandez stood and stared at those travelling supporters while others headed towards the tunnel.

It was a tad performative from the Argentinian, but we now know sections of the changing room found Rosenior’s tactical instructions tough to follow, per sources. It is also believed some of the squad did not take kindly to Fernandez being told he was suspended for the visit of Manchester United because of what he said during the international break. That does not excuse the fact they have been out-run in all 34 of their Premier League fixtures this season, mind, so Rosenior may have had a point as he went down swinging with his post-match interviews at the Amex.

Rosenior practically accused certain players of chucking it and that 3-0 beating by Brighton – their fifth successive league loss without scoring, equalling a record from 1912 – was enough to convince those above the Englishman they handed a six-and-a-half year contract that this job was too big and too soon for him to succeed. His position had become untenable with Chelsea sources claiming they were left with no choice. They could have handed him more time, of course, but this is a results game and they were in relegation form. Tottenham in disguise, as the song goes.

When Rosenior was first appointed, the fixtures came so fast that he hardly had time for meaningful training sessions. He decided not to rip up Enzo Maresca’s tactics out of fear that it would confuse the squad. It was once Chelsea finally started to have the odd free midweek that Rosenior infused his own ideas, but that only coincided with their disastrous downturn which has left them facing a season away from Europe’s top table at least.

The former Blues boss was told to 'f*** off' by his own fans during Chelsea's Brighton defeat

The former Blues boss was told to ‘f*** off’ by his own fans during Chelsea’s Brighton defeat

Sections of Chelsea’s dressing room found their now-ex-manager’s instructions hard to follow – and some took exception to Enzo Fernandez’s ban

Rosenior ultimately underperformed but Chelsea have chewed and spewed bigger names than his, and he also had the online mocking of his mannerisms for dealing with, which would have weighed heavy on anyone. Rosenior is a good person. He protected Chelsea’s players when, at times, they arguably did not deserve to be coddled. He will hopefully enjoy a happy career elsewhere.

Indeed, if Rosenior is seeking some optimism, he need only look at his predecessors. Thomas Tuchel will be leading England at this summer’s World Cup. Graham Potter will be leading Sweden. Mauricio Pochettino will be leading the United States. Frank Lampard has taken Coventry to the Premier League for next season. Maresca is widely rumoured to be replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer once he has finished enjoying time with the family.

Calum McFarlane, whom Rosenior added to his first-team coaching staff upon being appointed, will take temporary charge for the remainder of the season while the club focus on finding the perfect replacement. Daily Mail Sport has been told by someone close to John Terry that he would have loved to work with Chelsea’s squad, and that the feeling might even be mutual inside the changing room. But it will be the softly-spoken McFarlane taking charge in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final showdown with Leeds, and he too is said to be respected by the squad.

Chelsea have already indicated they are ready to tweak their strategy by focusing on signing proven players as of this summer. Now they need to identify an experienced manager after their gamble on Rosenior ended in another quick, and presumably expensive, exit.

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