Liam Rosenior sacked by Chelsea after 3-0 EPL defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion

LONDON – Liam Rosenior was dismissed on April 22 after slamming Chelsea’s “unacceptable” 3-0 English Premier League defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, which was the first time they had lost five consecutive league games without scoring since 1912.

His side were blown away at the Amex Stadium on April 21, with goals from Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck leaving their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League in tatters. Afterwards, the furious Englishman accused his players of lacking “desire, spirit and courage”.

The 41-year-old signed a six-year contract but lasted just 107 days.

Chelsea said via a statement on April 22: “This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season...

“Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as interim head coach until the end of the season... as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.”

Beaten seven times in their last eight games in all competitions, the Club World Cup champions have just one victory in their past nine league matches.

The latest loss left Chelsea with 48 points, two behind Brighton and seven adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool in the fight for the top-five finish that guarantees a Champions League berth.

Rosenior arrived from Strasbourg, who have the same owners as Chelsea, in January following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

A day earlier, Rosenior, who heard chants for his sacking from angry Blues fans, laid the blame at his players’ feet in a remarkable post-match tirade.

“I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing but I can’t defend that performance,” he said.

“It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.

“I feel numb, I’m so angry. I always speak on what I see and that was unacceptable. The goals we conceded were unacceptable and that is something I have to hold my hands up to.

“Tonight was not tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that. Nowhere near good enough...

“Tackles, duels, intensity, spirit, energy, passion all lacking and that is the reason we lost.”

Chelsea are in danger of missing out on European football altogether unless they can halt their wretched run.

They next face Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 26.

McFarlane had taken charge of two Premier League games in January between Maresca’s removal and Rosenior’s arrival.

Rosenior earlier this week claimed that Chelsea’s owners had been “magnificent” in their backing of him despite their alarming slump.

Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali had said the club remain optimistic about long-term success under the Englishman. But the atmosphere around the club had increasingly turned toxic.

Blues defender Trevoh Chalobah added to the feeling of disharmony when he gave a far different verdict to Rosenior on the team’s work ethic after the Brighton loss.

“I thought personally that the boys were running their socks off. Everyone in the changing room is tired. It’s nothing to do with effort. We gave it our all, we just got beat,” he said.

“We ran today. You can say the stats this, the stats that, but I can see the boys are tired...

“We have to stay positive. Negativity is not going to help. Us being negative, us dwelling on the past is not going to help the situation.”

Meanwhile, Brazil forward Estevao Willian’s participation in this summer’s World Cup reportedly is in jeopardy due to a hamstring injury sustained during Chelsea’s April 18 loss to Manchester United.

The 18-year-old prodigy suffered a Grade 4 hamstring injury and is “highly unlikely” to be ready for the start of the North American tournament on June 11, The Athletic reported on April 22. AFP, REUTERS