Liam Rosenior blocks out noise as he begins Chelsea reign

Liam Rosenior blocks out noise as he begins Chelsea reign

Liam Rosenior insists he will ignore outside scrutiny and remain "his own man" after being confirmed as Chelsea's new head coach, describing the club's potential as "limitless".

The 41-year-old, who signed a contract until 2032 following Enzo Maresca's departure, will take charge for the first time on Saturday away to Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round. It is Rosenior's first Premier League managerial role, but he says pressure is part of the privilege.

"The noise is just noise," Rosenior said. "I've experienced it before. I'm not promising success, but I believe strongly we can be very successful here. I won't limit limitlessness."

Rosenior's reputation grew during his spell at Strasbourg, where he led the Ligue 1 side to a seventh-place finish and European qualification, ending just three points shy of the Champions League places. Strasbourg, like Chelsea, are owned by BlueCo, though Rosenior rejected suggestions he has been appointed to simply follow orders from above.

"You can't be in this job and not be your own man," he said. "I will make the decisions. That's why I've been brought in."

Chelsea are currently eighth in the Premier League after a difficult run of form, with discipline issues highlighted by five red cards already this season. Rosenior acknowledged this as an area needing improvement after watching Wednesday's defeat at Fulham.

"It's something we can fix," he said. "The players show passion - it's about reacting better in key moments."

Rosenior is also conscious of the challenge of winning over supporters following Maresca's exit and growing unrest around the club's ownership.

"To win over the fans, I have to win games and build a team that represents them," he said. "My job is to get Chelsea back to a place where teams fear coming to Stamford Bridge."

With nine matches across four competitions in the next month, Rosenior's reign begins immediately under pressure - one he insists he is ready to embrace.

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