Chelsea may have fallen short on the scoreboard, but there were clear signs of encouragement for new head coach Liam Rosenior after his first outing in charge against a premier league opposition, Softfootball reports.
The Blues were edged 3-2 by Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, a high-intensity clash that offered Rosenior an early glimpse into the task ahead at Stamford Bridge.
According to Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Rosenior reflected positively on the performance despite the result, saying:
“I am encouraged from what I saw against Arsenal.I’m not happy to lose but it’s a building block and I can see where the players need to improve.
Rosenior was officially appointed earlier this month on a six-year deal, following the club’s decision to part ways with Enzo Maresca on January 1st, marking the start of a new long-term project under the former Strasbourg coach.
The Arsenal encounter represented Rosenior’s first match in charge against a premier league oppostion, and although Chelsea came up short, the performance showed enough fight and attacking intent to give belief ahead of the return leg.
Chelsea will now travel to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg, where Rosenior and his players will be hoping to defy the odds and pull off an upset to book their place in the Carabao Cup final.
