Rosenior Acknowledges Chelsea’s Need for Improved Sharpness and Freshness

Liam Rosenior expressed his disappointment after Chelsea’s home loss to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Blues faced their second defeat in four days, with Anthony Gordon scoring the only goal of the match. This marked Newcastle’s first win at Stamford Bridge in six years.

After the game, Rosenior noted that his players showed a lack of “mental freshness” following their 5-2 loss to PSG earlier in the week and were not sharp enough in front of goal.

Rosenior acknowledges Chelsea’s struggles

“It’s frustrating,” he told Sky Sports. “In the first 15 to 20 minutes, we were in control and attacking well. However, we conceded a poor goal after losing focus on a press. They made a straightforward pass through the center and took the lead, which allowed them to defend their position. The rest of the match was about us trying to break down their defense.

“Credit to Newcastle and Eddie Howe for defending well. We lacked the mental sharpness to get past them, which cost us the game. We made it into their final third multiple times, but we didn’t have that decisive edge. We created opportunities but failed to capitalize on them.

“Every time the ball bounced in the box, it seemed to go past one of our players or they blocked the shot. We had chances, but overall, we need to improve our finishing.”

Chelsea now face a quick turnaround with a return leg against PSG on Tuesday.

“We’re training tomorrow,” Rosenior said. “We need to ensure the players are physically ready. It’s important to select a team that can compete against PSG with intensity and energy, as they are a top team.

“Football is unpredictable. Just a few minutes from the end against PSG and after a good FA Cup win with a different lineup, things seemed positive. But situations can change quickly. There’s consistency in our overall performance, but in these two recent games, we haven’t been able to make the most of our chances.”