Liam Rosenior's Chelsea tenure began in spectacular fashion as the Blues cruised to a 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round at The Valley. In his first match in charge, Rosenior opted for a youthful lineup, a common strategy for Premier League teams in the early stages of the FA Cup.
Chelsea dominated possession from the kickoff, dictating the tempo with short, incisive passing. However, Charlton's compact defensive setup initially frustrated the Blues, who struggled to convert their dominance into clear-cut chances. Despite controlling 80% of the possession in the first half, Chelsea were limited to speculative efforts from outside the box. Just as frustrations began to mount, Jorrel Hato broke the deadlock in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time with a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area.
The second half saw Chelsea build on their lead quickly. Five minutes after the restart, Tosin Adarabioyo headed home a Facundo Buonanotte free-kick, extending Chelsea's advantage to 2-0. However, Charlton responded swiftly, with Miles Leaburn firing home from close range after a corner to reduce the deficit and briefly ignite hopes of a comeback.
Chelsea quickly extinguished any সম্ভাবনা of a Charlton revival, with Marc Guiu restoring the two-goal cushion just minutes later. Buonanotte's shot was parried by Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion, only for Guiu to slot home the rebound. Late goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández, the latter from the penalty spot, completed the rout and sealed Chelsea's place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Rosenior's tactical approach mirrored the system familiar to Chelsea fans, maintaining a similar structure to that employed under his predecessor, Enzo Maresca. The team operated in a 4-2-3-1 formation without the ball, transitioning to a 3-4-3 in attack. Left-back Jorrel Hato moved into attacking midfield when Chelsea had possession, creating a three-man backline in buildup.
Despite the impressive victory, some Chelsea fans used the occasion to voice their discontent with the club's ownership, singing the name of former owner Roman Abramovich and directing less complimentary chants towards current co-owner Behdad Eghbali. Rosenior acknowledged the fans' frustrations but expressed confidence in his ability to win them over with consistent performances and results.
Rosenior's first match in charge offered a glimpse of his vision for Chelsea, with a focus on youthful talent and attacking football. While sterner tests lie ahead, this dominant victory provides a positive foundation for the new manager to build upon as he seeks to mend fences between fans and the ownership.
