Chelsea’s Rosenior Rejects ‘Biggest Game’ Tag Before Carabao Cup Semi-Final Vs Arsenal

‎Chelsea head coach, Liam Rosenior, has dismissed claims that his Stamford Bridge bow against London rivals Arsenal is the pinnacle of his managerial career.

‎Barely a week after his appointment on a six-and-a-half-year deal, the 41-year-old will take charge of the Blues for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against the Premier League leaders.

‎Rosenior arrived in west London following an impressive spell with French club Strasbourg after almost leading Hull to the Championship play-offs following an interim stint in charge of Derby.

‎“People will look at it that way; I don’t see it that way,” he replied when asked if the visit of the Gunners would be his biggest match as a manager.

‎“Every session that I take, every meeting that I take, every game that we play is the most important thing. I live in the now.

‎“It is the most important game because it’s the next one. I mean that. If you start to prioritise games or think something is more important than the other then you’re not focused.

‎“I don’t care if it’s a pre-season game, I’m doing it at my maximum, and I expect that from whichever group I work with.

‎“That keeps me calm because I’m happy with the process in which we work as a staff, which the players are taking on.

‎“I’m not making it any bigger than the fact it’s the next game and we have to win, that’s the way I see it.”

‎Rosenior began his Chelsea tenure with Saturday’s 5-1 FA Cup third-round victory at Charlton, having watched last week’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Fulham from the stands.

‎He became Chelsea’s eighth permanent manager in a decade, succeeding Enzo Maresca, and rejected suggestions that he was trying to “buy time” in the role as he targets a Wembley appearance.

‎“I want to win every game I play, it’s very simple,” Rosenior said.

‎“If you don’t take care of the next game, those trophies don’t exist, it’s as simple as that.

‎“I’m not thinking about buying time. I’m thinking about winning the next game.

‎“I felt that against Charlton, I feel that against Arsenal, and I will feel that against Brentford (on Saturday).

‎“I’m focused on the moment. I’m focused on putting on the best training sessions, the best meetings, the best advice, the best information I can to win the next game because finals and trophies don’t exist if you don’t take care of the now.”

‎Chelsea, though 18 points behind Arsenal in the league, earned a commendable 1-1 draw with ten men when the teams met in November after Moises Caicedo was sent off for a 38th-minute red card.

‎“We’ve been working tactically on Arsenal from the moment I came into the club,” Rosenior said.

‎“We know what an important game it is. We’ve watched all of their games, analysed every aspect of their game.

‎“This team has already proved this year with 10 men, we caused problems (for Arsenal), and we want to do the same again.”