It was anticipated, it is now official, or almost. This Tuesday morning at a press conference, RC Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior announced that he would leave the club to become the new coach of Chelsea, a position left vacant since the dismissal of Enzo Maresca.
His first words immediately killed the little suspense that remained: “Saturday (during the trip to Nice, 0-0, Editor’s note), I didn’t know what was going to happen. What has happened since then is that I have been allowed to speak with one of the biggest clubs in the world. Today things are off to a good start for me to be the next manager of Chelsea. »
The relationship between the two clubs is well known: Strasbourg, like Chelsea, is owned by the BlueCo consortium. As a result, many players have moved between the two clubs over the past two years. Today it’s the coach’s turn to shuttle.
“Return home, close to my family”
“There were offers before but I was very focused on my mission,” he said. But there are moments like this in life, it’s an opportunity that I couldn’t say no to. It’s a club (Strasbourg) that I would love all my life but I couldn’t refuse. This gives me the opportunity to return home, close to my family (…) Tomorrow I will wake up as Chelsea coach. When you’re a young manager and you work hard, these are the type of opportunities you dream of. »
For the moment, nothing signed, nothing official, he specifies. “I haven’t signed yet, I reached an agreement with Chelsea but no one has communicated yet before it’s official. I care about this club and I felt I had to come here physically (facing the press) before it was official. » The native of Wandsworth, in the suburbs of London, will take the plane immediately after the press conference. “I’m going to have meetings, sign my contract and meet my players, which I’m looking forward to. »
Obviously, Rosenior, who announced the news to his players before presenting himself to the press, is aware of the situation in which he puts Strasbourg by leaving the ship mid-season. “I know people are going to say it’s not the right time,” he admitted. “I hope the fans will understand and be proud that someone who works here is identified to become the coach of a Champions League winning club. I hope they will understand that sometimes there are opportunities that cannot be refused. »
“Strasbourg is not at the level of Chelsea”
“The reality in football is that there are club levels, I know the ambition of this club (Strasbourg) which is to reach the very high level but the current reality is that Strasbourg is not at the level of Chelsea,” he said. It will grow in the future. »
The name of his successor is not yet known. Rosenior will take his deputies with him, including Kalifa Cissé. “The next coach will be of a very high level and will lead this club to an even higher level,” Rosenior prophesied. I will always have connections with David (Weir, RCSA sporting director), Marc (Keller, president) and the next coach if necessary. »
Arriving in Alsace in the summer of 2024, Wayne Rooney’s former assistant at Derby County leaves RC Strasbourg after 63 games in charge (32 wins, 14 draws, 17 defeats). It leaves the club in 7th place in Ligue 1, the same place in which it finished last season, offering the Alsatian club qualification for the Europa Conference League, a competition in which the Strasbourg side are shining this season.
Worth a look
-kyhC-U301465261094MoF-1200x840@Diario%20Vasco.JPG)
