Chelsea players want new manager to be big character who can command respect

Squad viewed Rosenior as too inexperienced

Iraola and Fàbregas are potential candidates for job

Chelsea’s players feel Liam Rosenior’s successor needs to be a big character who can command the respect of the dressing room and keep strong egos in line.

With the search under way for the sixth permanent manager of the BlueCo era, it is understood the squad are keen for a shift in focus after failing to connect with Rosenior before his time at Stamford Bridge ended three months into a six-and-a-half-year deal.

Although Rosenior was regarded as a good person, the insider view is that he was fighting a losing battle with the players from the start because they viewed him as too inexperienced and felt he did not know how to manage top players. A source said the 41-year-old, hired as Enzo Maresca’s replacement in January, tried to be a friend to the players behind closed doors, was regarded as an awkward communicator and held too many one-to-one meetings.