Newly appointed Chelsea head coach, Liam Rosenior, is set to hold talks with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi to determine their futures at the club. With the January transfer window in full swing, Rosenior wants to evaluate his squad before deciding whether to bring in new signings. The coach has been focused on preparing his team for the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, leaving him little time to assess the duo's situation.
Rosenior's Priority: The 41-year-old coach has a long list of priorities, but speaking with Sterling and Disasi is high on his agenda. "I've had so much on," he said. "I've been in for three days. This is my fourth day in the job. I will have conversations with them. Raheem's had an outstanding career. I've got huge respect for him and Axel, who was someone I've really, really liked for a long time." Rosenior's respect for the players is evident, but he needs to make tough decisions about their futures.
Rosenior's approach is centered around giving players a chance to prove themselves. "Normally you get good surprises if you give people a chance. I had some really good surprises in the game against Charlton. The performance from some of the players who maybe haven’t played as much this season was outstanding."
Uncertain Futures: Sterling and Disasi have not played for Chelsea this season and have been available for transfer since last summer. However, finding buyers has been challenging, particularly for Sterling, who has 18 months left on his contract worth around £325,000 a week. Rosenior is open to the possibility of the duo returning to the squad, but he needs to have conversations with them and the club to determine the best course of action.
Chelsea's transfer activity is likely to be limited in the January window, but Rosenior is open to opportunities. "The first conversation I had with the guys is that I want to assess the most important players, which is the guys that are here," he said. The coach believes that the answers to the team's problems may lie within the current squad, rather than in new signings.
Upcoming Fixtures: Chelsea face a busy schedule in January, with six games remaining in the month. Rosenior will have to manage his players carefully, particularly Cole Palmer, who is an injury doubt for the Arsenal game. "He's a special talent," Rosenior said. "My job is to get to know him, to connect with him, to understand what gets the best out of him. And that takes time." The coach is keen to avoid risking any players, particularly in this phase of the season.
Rosenior's approach to managing Palmer's workload will be crucial in the coming weeks. "I've had a really good, in-depth conversation with Cole today," he said. "I've had a really good, in-depth conversation with the medical team. It would be crazy for me to risk any player in this phase of the season." With the Carabao Cup semi-final and Premier League games on the horizon, Rosenior needs to make smart decisions about his team selection and player management.
Original: The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Written by Npsports
