Chelsea began the Liam Rosenior era with a convincing 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic to reach the FA Cup fourth round. Despite the comfortable victory, frustration among Chelsea supporters was directed firmly at the club’s owners rather than the pitch. Rosenior, appointed after the departure of Enzo Maresca, oversaw a controlled performance from a rotated side, with goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández.
The 41-year-old head coach rested key players such as Cole Palmer and Reece James ahead of upcoming fixtures, instead giving opportunities to fringe players and young talents. Hato impressed at left-back, while Estevão Willian dazzled on his cameo appearance, winning a late penalty. Charlton briefly threatened after Miles Leaburn pulled one back from a corner, again exposing Chelsea’s defensive frailties. However, the result was never in doubt.
Off the field, chants against owners Clearlake Capital and nostalgic calls for Roman Abramovich underlined ongoing unrest. Rosenior, now the fifth Chelsea head coach since 2022, faces the dual challenge of stabilising performances and navigating a deeply sceptical fanbase.
