Expected! Liam Rosenior Opens Up on Mockery Situation at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has admitted he “expected” mockery when taking the job at Stamford Bridge because his “background” is “different” from managers at other top clubs.

Rosenior has made a fine start to life as Chelsea head coach, winning seven of his nine matches in charge. With the Blues now set to face Leeds United on Tuesday night, it’s set to be another thrilling game.

However, despite Rosenior’s impressive record at Stamford Bridge, he has not been universally praised. While he has received plenty of praise for Chelsea’s good form, he has also been the subject of internet memes since taking the helm.

This include being likened to Will McKenzie from the British sitcom The Inbetweeners and ridiculed for his poor first touch on the sideline in Chelsea’s midweek defeat at Arsenal last week.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior reacts during the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Speaking candidly in his press conference ahead of the Leeds game, Rosenior revealed that the mockery has an effect on his family.

“I know [about the memes] because I’ve got teenage children,” Rosenior said. “They’re on social media. It affects them. It affects my parents. It affects my family.

“But I knew walking into this job that it was going to happen. It’s normal. When you’re prepared for it, it makes you smile. I’m a confident person. And if you’re affected by things like that you shouldn’t be in this job.

“There’s no way you can do this job if you’re affected negatively by it. I quite enjoy it, to be honest. You know, I didn’t help myself with my first touch at Arsenal. But that comes with the territory.

“I’m enjoying the job. I know in time people will start judging me on what they see on the pitch.”

Pressed on why his excellent start has not brought a more wholly positive reaction, he replied: “I agree with what you’re saying. I’ll leave it at that. People make their own judgments on people before they meet them. That’s part of life.”

Rosenior reiterated: “I expected it. Look, I don’t know if you’re trying to lead me to say anything. It doesn’t affect me. I’ve been prepared to do this job for years, for decades, and I knew what would come with it. And it actually doesn’t affect me at all, because I know the focus is doing the job and enjoying it.

“I’m not afraid to be myself. If I wear glasses, if I sound a little bit over the top when I speak, or articulate myself in a certain way, or I don’t look like a manager, it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Asked why he expected a level of mockery in the job, Rosenior explained: “Maybe my background and my coaching and being at a club the size of this is different. It’s different. It’s different.

“I’m not a massive name. I’m from a different type of club and have a different type of character.”

The 41-year-old added: “I’m more worried about how it affects my kids than how it affects me.”