Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior admitted he lost his cool at Arsenal’s players over their behaviours to his team ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semifinal second leg.
The Blues were defeated 1-0 on Tuesday night as Arsenal booked a place in the Carabao Cup Final 4-2 on aggregate. However, Rosenior before kick-off was captured in an angry exchange with the home team on the Emirates Stadium pitch.
Rosenior accused Arsenal players of encroaching into Chelsea’s half.
Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana flicks the ball wide at a corner kick during the English League Cup semi final match against Arsenal. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)
“When you warm up you have your half and the other team have their half,” he said. “In that moment I didn’t think it was right where they were operating. They were affecting my lads’ warm-up.
“So I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half. I’m not here to have mind games, it’s just what I think is right and respectful.
“There’s certain etiquette in football. I don’t have an issue with anyone at Arsenal. It was just in that moment I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.”
Former Chelsea player Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal that face Arsenal the much needed victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night.
Liam Rosenior’s only defeat at Chelsea has come against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. (Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Three wins out of three in the Premier League as well as direct progression to the last 16 of the Champions League, Rosenior will be eager to put the Carabao Cup heartbreak behind him.
Rosenior also gave an update on the fitness of Cole Palmer and Estevao, both who started from the bench against Arsenal.
He added: “We have the very best medical team, the very best sports science team. We do many tests. We want to make sure these players can play at the level they need to play at to help us win.
“In terms of Cole, there isn’t a timeframe where he’s going to be perfect in a month or two months, it’s just game to game.
“He’s bought in, he’s been magnificent. He is maturing as a human being and he understands the bigger picture which is his career.”
