Chelsea's coach responds to criticism following a bitter defeat against Arsenal

Chelsea officially bowed out of the Carabao Cup following a 0-1 defeat to Arsenal in the return leg of the semi-final at Emirates, ending the two matches with a total score of 2-4 in Arsenal's favor.

Although Chelsea did not perform spectacularly and faced significant difficulties in getting close to Arsenal's goal, coach Rosenior remained steadfast in defending his approach to the match. The English manager admitted the team lacked decisive moments but emphasized that the players fought until the final minute despite a congested schedule and numerous personnel issues.

Speaking after the game, Rosenior did not shy away from criticism regarding Chelsea's somewhat cautious style of play. He candidly responded: “I used to be a commentator. It's very easy to do that. Judging after the match is always the simplest thing.”

The strategist also explained that every tactical choice carries risks: “If I push the team higher and press aggressively but we concede two early goals, everyone would question what I was doing. That’s the reality of my job. When you lose, you get criticized; when you win, you’re hailed as a genius. Usually, things fall somewhere between those extremes.”

Rosenior revealed that preparations for the match against Arsenal faced many challenges, sharing: “We encountered a lot of problems over the past few days. This morning, there were still some fitness tests. Normally, I announce the squad the day before, but this time I could only finalize the lineup this afternoon after fully assessing the players’ conditions.”

Despite the defeat, Chelsea’s coach praised his players’ fighting spirit: “I must give a lot of credit to the players. Our schedule is very tight, yet they still gave energy, fighting spirit, and effort. Unfortunately, we lacked the crucial quality moments that make the difference.”

A hot topic after the match was the injury status of three key stars: Reece James, Pedro Neto, and Cole Palmer. The first two were completely absent, while Palmer only came on in the second half. Rosenior confirmed that Reece James and Pedro Neto had fitness issues: “Pedro and Reece had minor problems and felt too sore to play today. They are always ready to step up and give their all.”

He also showed special respect for the two players: “Reece is a great captain and leader, and Pedro is a model professional and very talented player.”

Regarding Cole Palmer, Rosenior explained that using him only from the bench was a long-term protective decision. The Chelsea coach said: “Cole played an excellent full 90 minutes and was the reason we came back against West Ham. He is a precious gem. We must protect him and ensure he stays in top condition for the entire season.”