“Liam Rosenior remembers watching Chelsea beat PSG to win the Club World Cup final in his living room in Derby. There can’t have been many who believed eight months on he would get to take on the defending European Champions, at least not as the Chelsea head coach.
“He certainly has a bit of experience when it comes to taking on one of his inspirations, Luis Enrique. This will be the fourth time Rosenior gets to have a crack at PSG, knowing that his last two attempts with Strasbourg were pretty successful. There was the win last May albeit after PSG had already been crowned League champions but perhaps more impressive was the 3-3 draw last October away at the venue for tomorrow night’s game. It could and should have probably been better for Rosenior’s young Strasbourg team who were 3-1 up at one point – not bad for a man who arrived in France he says with the media thinking he was a bit of a “joke.” Few think that now.
“Rosenior has packed a lot into his 15 games and two months or so in charge – he’s been very confident since the moment he replaced Enzo Maresca and even more so he says now he has seen the ability in this team. Tomorrow night at the Parc des Prince they need to show it.
“Malo Gusto who was exceptional when these sides met in New Jersey in that final knows that too. On rare occasions this season Chelsea have looked like the fitting Champions they were last July but far too often lapses in concentration, decision making and discipline have cost them. There is no room for error no “setting fire to points,” Chelsea have another amazing opportunity and although the context and conditions are different they can call on the muscle memory of that victory.
“Rosenior from his experience over here knows they can also use the crowd. Was he surprised by the level of criticism PSG are receiving having not hit the highs of last year – not really. PSG are the only show in town. When they drop off even the tiniest amount the noise can be deafening – the mood around the place is a far cry from last May when they made history in becoming European Champions. If Chelsea can get at Enrique’s team early, a side who are struggling with fitness, momentum and confidence early then who knows.
“Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel both won the Champions League after taking over in mid-season. A solid result and performance tomorrow night in Paris and Rosenior will certainly fancy his chances of doing the same.”
