CHELSEA have had “detailed discussions” about what they need in the summer transfer window, Liam Rosenior revealed after the Blues’ 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
A fourth defeat in their last five Premier League games, and second 3-0 loss in a row, was met with boos by the home fans still inside the stadium at the final whistle.
After a goalless first half, the Blues fell apart after the break as goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku meant Pep Guardiola’s side took advantage of Arsenal’s defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth and cut the gap to the leaders to six points with a game in hand ahead of a top-two showdown at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.
There are question marks over Rosenior after six defeats in seven games and exits from the Champions League and EFL Cup since he replaced Enzo Maresca in January.
But Rosenior insisted he was part of planning for next season.
“Even over the last week, we’ve had lots of detailed conversations about what we need to look like moving forward from the summer window,” Rosenior said. “You talk about all different aspects of the game, physicality, technicality, positional things. They’re all things that we’re in talks in and we know what we want to improve and we know where we want to improve in the summer.”
One of the main talking points before the game was the club-imposed two-game ban for midfielder Enzo Fernandez after he said he didn’t know whether he would be at Stamford Bridge next season.
Fernandez will be back available against Manchester United at home on Saturday.
“Enzo’s a top player and, honestly, he’s a top character and I’m looking forward to having him back next week,” Rosenior said. “Sometimes you make decisions not based on the short-term, you make decisions based on what you want to see long-term. And it was a long-term decision that myself and the directors and the club aligned and the leadership group of players that we made, to make sure that our values and our culture in the long-term is in the right place.
“But Enzo has had the conversations he’s needed to have. He’s been fantastic in the last few days in supporting myself and the team and I can’t wait to have him back in the squad.”
Chelsea are sixth, four points off Liverpool in the last Champions League place. The Blues also face Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-finals.
“Right now we are still in the race for the Champions League,” Rosenior said. “We still have the possibility to win the FA Cup. I have to change it now. I’m not a manager that hides behind maybe we need to do something with other players in the transfer market. I need to change it now. That’s why I’m here. So it’s something that we have to address because it’s happened too many times where we’ve been in games against top teams. First half, I felt we actually were very, very good. Same against PSG for 75 minutes, but then we concede and then the cards start to fold.”
Rosenior added: “This is a huge football club. When I first came, I never asked for a lot of time because I understand this club. I understand the traditions and the history of this club. I would like to have that time and I’m confident that in that time, you can create something very, very special within the time that it takes, which even someone as experienced as Pep or Jurgen Klopp when he won the titles he did at Liverpool, they had a year to sort things out.
“I’ve come in January. It’s not an excuse. It’s a reality. I need to win in the now and that’s what I’ll be focused on.”
