Deafening silence? Chelsea stars keep quiet on Liam Rosenior’s sacking – with NONE of the squad paying tribute on social media – in stark distinction to when Enzo Maresca was axed
There has been radio silence from Chelsea‘s players the day after Liam Rosenior‘s sacking.
In stark contrast to when the Blues axed Enzo Maresca earlier in the season, this time there has not been a single tribute to their departed manager from the squad.
When Maresca was given the boot, nine Chelsea players went online with kind words and thanks for the Italian – under whom they had won the Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League.
But it appears as though Rosenior has not inspired the same level of gratitude during his 23 matches in charge.
The 41-year-old was sacked on Wednesday night the day after his team lost their fifth Premier League game in a row without scoring.
The abject run has made Champions League qualification an extremely remote possibility and even European football of any kind will require a sharp change in fortunes.
Chelsea players, pictured during the defeat by Brighton, are yet to take to social media and pay tribute to sacked manager Liam Rosenior
Maresca was sacked at the start of January and the decision hit some members of the squad hard.
Enzo Fernandez, who was given a two-match ban by Rosenior for an interview talking up the idea of living in Madrid, was particularly close to his old boss, writing: ‘Mister, thank you for everything shared and experienced during this stage, I learned a lot and I value every advice and experience.
‘Wishing you and your coaching staff, Willy, Dani, Robi, Marcos and Mickey, all the best. We won two titles together that I will never forget. Much success to you and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future. A big hug.’
Robert Sanchez wrote in his tribute: ‘Thank you for everything Enzo, Mickey, Willy, Dani, Marcos and Robi. Very grateful for the trust and the memories we shared, those will live with me forever. Wishing you all the best for the future, will miss you all.’
Further tributes were shared by Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, Liam Delap and Marc Cucurella.
Plenty of players, such as Cole Palmer, chose not to offer a tribute to Maresca, seemingly showing a split in the squad over how the Italian was regarded.
It remains to be seen which Chelsea player, if any, will share words of support or thanks for Rosenior, with none opting to do so at time of writing.
Chelsea will next be in action on Sunday when they face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
Rosenior is seen apologising to the Chelsea fans at the end of the game at the Amex
Enzo Fernandez was one of nine first team players to have paid to Maresca publicly when he was sacked back in January
Rosenior, who won 11, drew two and lost 10 of his 23 matches in charge, had expressed his confidence that the Chelsea board were backing him ahead of the match against Brighton but Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as interim boss until the end of the season.
Reacting to Rosenior’s sacking, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: ‘This policy at Chelsea, this plan, I don’t see it.
‘These six and eight-year agreements that they give – it’s almost laughable from the start, whether it be for a manager or a player.
‘The owners haven’t got a clue what they are doing. I’ve made massive mistakes as an owner and sometimes you’ve got to accept you don’t know what you’re doing.
‘They are all over the place. I just don’t get it. You deserve what you get in football and that’s every single ownership, and it’s a reflection upon them, not the coach.’
Neville also singled out Enzo Fernandez, who Rosenior banned for two matches after his comments about wanting to live in Madrid, and Marc Cucurella as players who had let down their head coach.
Fernandez in March criticised Chelsea’s hierarchy for their decision to sack Maresca, admitting the Italian’s departure ‘hurt’, while Cucurella also questioned the timing of the move and said the coach’s exit had a ‘big impact’ on the squad.
‘Cucurella and Fernandez [are] experienced players, probably the only two experienced players Chelsea have got, stitching him up in the last few weeks by calling out the fact they basically love Maresca,’ Neville said.
‘Well they weren’t doing that well under him. I think Maresca is a fine coach as well.’
