Liam Rosenior hails ‘outstanding’ £18m star after Chelsea appointment

Liam Rosenior was keen to single out one ‘outstanding’ Chelsea star in his first interview since being confirmed as the Blues’ new head coach.

Rosenior was confirmed as Enzo Maresca’s permanent successor on Tuesday, five days after the Italian departed Stamford Bridge following a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s hierarchy.

The Englishman arrives from Strasbourg, which are also run by the BlueCo consortium, having guided the French club to a seventh-place finish and a return to European football last season.

Rosenior has signed a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2032 and described his arrival at the club as ‘one of the proudest days of my life’.

‘Proud. Excited. Can’t wait to start,’ he told the club’s website.

‘It’s a lot of hard work in my life to get to this point, but as I’ve already said to the players, getting to this club is one thing, but I want to win at this amazing football club with these players and the staff.

‘That is what my focus is on.’

Rosenior will be in the stands for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Fulham on Wednesday, with his first match in charge coming on Saturday in an FA Cup third-round clash against Charlton Athletic.

And the 41-year-old faces a daunting task for his first game at Stamford Bridge as the Blues welcome league leaders Arsenal for the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

‘First game at home against Arsenal in a cup semi, that’s what I live for and what I’ve worked so hard for,’ he said.

‘I know I’m perceived to be a young coach, and I don’t want to get too much into myself about my journey, but it’s something that I love doing and it’s a dream I’ve always had to be at a club of this magnitude.

‘So, yes, it’s going to be a great night, but coaching is not about you as an individual. Coaching is about serving others and I’m looking forward to not just that game, I’m looking forward to many, many good, good days to come.’