Chelsea players ‘did not do their job’ in Burnley draw, fumes Liam Rosenior

LONDON – Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior branded his side’s defending for Burnley’s late equaliser “unacceptable”, as the Blues coughed up two more points in the battle for a Champions League spot in a 1-1 draw on Feb 21.

“We have set fire to four points from two home games,” the Englishman, who replaced Enzo Maresca in mid-January, told reporters. “It’s not good enough for a club of this level.”

The home side appeared set to cruise to a fifth win in six English Premier League games since Rosenior took charge when Joao Pedro opened the scoring after just four minutes.

But Chelsea wasted a number of chances to extend their lead and were undone by another case of ill discipline.

Wesley Fofana was sent off 18 minutes from time for a second yellow card – Chelsea’s sixth red card of the league campaign.

Burnley took advantage to boost their slim hopes of survival when Zian Flemming headed in from a corner in stoppage time for a 1-1 draw.

“It is unacceptable for their best header of the ball to be free in the box,” said Rosenior.

“I am learning very quickly about this team and I know what needs to be done for us to improve.”

A point takes Chelsea into the top four on goal difference only, above Manchester United.

But after a kind run of fixtures to begin Rosenior’s reign at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea face Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester City in their next five league games.

“It is too many times,” added the 41-year-old, whose side blew a 2-0 lead to

draw 2-2 at home to Leeds United

in their last league outing.

“It is not enough clean sheets and not enough basics and values of defending set pieces. That is something I have to address.

“There were players on the pitch who were assigned to do their job and who didn’t do their job. That is what cost us the two points.”

Burnley coach Scott Parker said he was frustrated that his side had not come away with all three points after Jacob Bruun Larsen headed over from a corner in the 96th minute.

But he was proud that they had again shown fighting spirit, having come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Crystal Palace in their last league game.

“The players have shown a real resilience again today,” Parker told reporters. “We stayed in the game and grew stronger.”

Meanwhile, Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri said they were racially abused on social media following the match.

“2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes,” Fofana wrote on Instagram. “These people are never punished. You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything.”

Mejbri, who was fouled for the first of the two yellow cards that led to Fofana’s dismissal, also posted the messages he received on social media.

“Educate yourself and your kids,” he wrote in an Instagram story. AFP, REUTERS