Before even setting foot on the lawn of Nice, where Strasbourg launches its year 2025 this Saturday, Racing is already mired in an internal crisis. The fault lies in a dismissal… in England, where Enzo Maresca was fired by Chelsea. The relationship with the Alsatians? The BlueCo investment fund, which owns the two clubs and should, in all likelihood, draw from the Strasbourg bench to replace the one it fired.
Who is Liam Rosenior?
Arriving at Meinau in July 2024, the Briton was presented by its president Marc Keller as “a young coach recognized for his ability to make his teams play well and help his players progress”. Two traits that the forty-year-old (41 years old) confirmed during his 17 months in Alsace, where BlueCo offered him unprecedented financial means to attract gems. Seventh in Ligue 1 after his first season, he brought Strasbourg back to Europe for the first time in 20 years. Above all, young shoots like Valentin Barco, Guéla Doué (brother of Désiré) or Andrey Santos have exploded to become references in the championship.
“He’s a very good Ligue 1 coach,” says Valentin, a Meinau subscriber for almost fifteen years. He has done a lot with very young players. For the first time since we came back (2017), we played really well and we no longer had an inferiority complex against the big guys. » As evidenced by the clashes against PSG. In May, the Alsatians defeated the future European champions (2-1) and almost did it again in October by conceding a spectacular 3-3 draw at the Parc des Princes.
Why are we talking about him at Chelsea?
These performances caught the eye of the managers of Chelsea, the parent company. Fifth in the Premier League and left behind in the title race, the Blues dismissed Enzo Maresca to create an electric shock. And looked to Strasbourg for an alternative solution.
And while he assured not to look towards England in mid-September, Rosenior’s speech has radically changed since then, with a nebulous press conference this Friday. “In life, there are zero guarantees. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I don’t want to guarantee how long I’ll be here. » An assumed quibble which reinforces suspicions of a departure for England, where the game he plays and his ability to help young players progress are of interest.
Why is his probable departure creating controversy?
Movements between the two clubs are commonplace in timeshares. Chelsea lends several young people to Alsace each year and the best join the English squad each summer. Captain Emmanuel Emegha has even already given his agreement to cross the Channel next summer.
“But until now, multi-ownership served the interests of both clubs. Strasbourg picked up good players and served as a nursery, observes Loïc Ravenel, economist at the International Center for Sports Studies. There, the masks fall. Strasbourg becomes a vassal club, where it serves the interests of its big brother. It doesn’t matter if the coach had put in place a sports policy, there is a need at the main club so we exfiltrate it. »
The hierarchy is therefore much clearer and Strasbourg does not come out a winner. Already in difficulty in the championship – no victory in the last four days – the Alsatians risk being even more destabilized. Especially since players had agreed to come because Rosenior was at the head of the team and risked demobilizing.
“Often, timeshares have financial interests, as in the case of OL – Botafogo. Here, the sporting project is called into question, notes Loïc Ravenel. Certainly, Strasbourg had good players but for what purpose? If it works, it’s borderline bad news since the players are leaving. Do supporters want to be another club’s adjustment variable? »
How do the supporters react?
They themselves are the first disappointed by this turnaround. “We are disgusted, we only serve to improve Chelsea,” regrets Valentin, our subscriber. You can’t get attached to anyone, not even the coach. It’s depressing because we stay while they behave like mercenaries. » Even across the Channel, the decision is difficult to pass.
Chelsea supporters groups have called for a demonstration against “the model and the strategy”. They regret “the instability of the team” and the four dismissals of coaches in four years, a consequence of “managerial chaos”. Above all, Rosenior’s CV, despite his successful stint in France, remains meager for a contender for the Premier League and the Champions League.
“The expectations are much too high for him,” judges Marin, a Breton fan of the London club. He is not a coach cut out for the high level who will allow us to progress. And then, as French people, it bothers us for Strasbourg, where we plunder every player who has had a good six months so as not to have him play with us. » Rosenior has the advantage of knowing that he will be able to express himself from his bench. But also this pressure – which he never had in Strasbourg – of possible early dismissal in the event of a bad series.
