It was a crash course in the modern Chelsea for Liam Rosenior. The new head coach saw rash decisions undermine flashes of promise and heard rumblings of discontent. Few supporters are convinced by the club’s direction and the cracks were evident when the travelling supporters aimed mutinous chants at the Chelsea hierarchy as they watched their erratic side fall to a chaotic 2-1 defeat at Fulham.
Steering this project back on course will not be easy for Rosenior. Perhaps he will reflect that he has already made his first misstep since leaving Strasbourg. He elected not to sit in the away dugout, leaving Calum McFarlane in interim charge after the draw with Manchester City, and the result was Chelsea producing a directionless performance in which they lost Marc Cucurella to an early red card before losing to a late goal from Harry Wilson.
Watching from the directors’ box gave Rosenior a good view of his new side’s strengths and weaknesses. The former Fulham right-back sat next to Behdad Eghbali, the club’s co-controlling owner, after a dizzying few days and it is easy to imagine conversations during the first half quickly turning to Chelsea’s chronic lack of discipline.
Chelsea started well. Taking charge for the second and final time, McFarlane stuck to club policy and rotated heavily. Andrey Santos was a notable inclusion in midfield and there was an opportunity for Liam Delap to build on a bright cameo against City in attack.
