Tactical fit and network support: Can Rosénier seamlessly replace Maresca?

By Han Bing Following Maresca’s sacking, Rosénier, the young English coach at Strasbourg, stands out as the top favorite among Chelsea’s potential new managers. Despite having little recognition in British football, this Sierra Leonean-descended coach looks elegant and modest, yet he outshines De Zerbi, Xavi, the seasoned Glasner, and the young Farioli, proving his superiority is more than just value for money.

Strasbourg serves as Chelsea’s satellite club in Ligue 1, allowing Chelsea’s upper management to “promote” him to the Blues’ headquarters at any time. However, out of respect for the lower-tier club, Chelsea agreed to delay rapid negotiations with Rosénier until after last weekend’s Ligue 1 matches and is willing to wait until Strasbourg confirms their new coach before “transferring” Rosénier. They also plan to pay a symbolic compensation fee as a gesture of respect. Portuguese media revealed Chelsea prefers the 36-year-old Porto coach Farioli, but his release clause is as high as €20 million, and his salary demands far exceed Rosénier’s.

Rosénier’s popularity mainly comes from his almost “plug-and-play” readiness. He is familiar with Chelsea’s three sporting directors: he first met Stewart when playing for Hull City, where Stewart was a team analyst, and they often exchanged tactical insights. He has known Winstanley for 15 years since his Brighton playing days. Coaching in Brighton’s youth ranks, he worked alongside Jewell, and having spent his entire playing career in England, he is very familiar with the Premier League.

Chelsea’s leadership favors Rosénier not only because of his connections with management but also because he led Strasbourg, the youngest squad in Ligue 1, to a 7th-place finish, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification. Five years ago, he served as assistant coach to Cocu and Rooney; after Rooney’s departure, he took over as interim coach, gaining experience managing young squads. Later, he nearly reached the Championship playoffs with Hull City but was unexpectedly dismissed before getting the chance to coach in Ligue 1.

Known as a “detail fanatic,” media reports say Rosénier once created a 450-page PowerPoint to explain his tactics. His style of high pressing and fluid switching between 3-2-5 and 4-3-3 formations closely resembles Maresca’s, allowing him to integrate almost seamlessly into Chelsea’s locker room. Moreover, last season he coached Draper at Hull City and André Santos at Strasbourg, so he will have familiar faces welcoming him in the Chelsea dressing room.

Rosénier experienced the coaching environment firsthand from age 10, accompanying his coach father. His mother, a social worker, often helped those in need, which honed his persuasion skills and a gentle approach to locker room management. At 32, he already holds a professional coaching license and has been writing columns for The Guardian for a decade, making him comfortable dealing with the media. The managerial structure that troubled Maresca at Chelsea is no issue for him.

The only concern is Rosénier’s lack of experience managing a top club. Upon taking charge, he will face a brutal schedule with consecutive weeks of double fixtures within 35 days, totaling 11 matches across four competitions. If Chelsea advance in the FA Cup and Champions League, the double-match weeks will extend by two more weeks. Tough battles lie ahead, including the two-legged League Cup semifinals against Arsenal, the Champions League away matches at Napoli, and the mid-to-late February two-legged Champions League knockout rounds. If he fails to deliver results satisfying the American owners during this grueling run, he may face the same fate as Maresca by March 1 when Chelsea visit Arsenal in the league.