Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior expressed pride in his players’ performance despite a narrow 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues fell behind early when Ben White headed home from a corner in the seventh minute. Arsenal extended their lead shortly after the interval as Viktor Gyokeres converted a close-range finish. Chelsea fought back through substitute Alejandro Garnacho, who struck twice, including a late goal that keeps the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at the Emirates in February. Martín Zubimendi also scored for Arsenal.
Tonight marked Rosenior’s first home game in charge after his appointment last week. Speaking after the match, the 41-year-old praised his side’s courage in executing his tactical instructions. “I was proud of the bravery of the players to try to execute certain aspects of what I’ve asked,” Rosenior said. “I’ve been in for six days, and we’ve had two matches in that time. I’m not asking for time because I think the group is good enough to win now, but I need to put my stamp on the team.”
Rosenior highlighted Chelsea’s attacking progress, noting opportunities created both from transitions and structured build-up play. “I want us to be high tempo, front foot, and control games,” he added. “I’m very encouraged by what I saw today. There’s a lot we can build on, and I can show the players areas to improve ahead of Saturday’s match.”
Source: Chelseafc