Chelsea head coach **Liam Rosenior** addressed the media at Cobham on Thursday 16 April 2026 ahead of Saturday evening’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United. The Blues, chasing a top-four finish, sit in a challenging run of form but remain determined to close the gap in the remaining games. Rosenior delivered a calm, focused, and pragmatic update covering team news, player returns, the opposition, recent struggles, and the impending fan protest.
### Team News & Injury Updates
Rosenior provided clear updates on key defensive personnel:
- **Levi Colwill** (long-term knee injury): “I’m hoping so [he returns before the end of the season]. Obviously, Levi is an outstanding player and a leader in the dressing room. I think Levi will play some minutes for the under-21s tomorrow, which is fantastic for him. When you have a long-term injury… you need a long rehab period. I want to make sure that he’s 100% right in terms of his match fitness before we consider him for selection for our first team.”
- **Trevoh Chalobah**: “Trevoh trained today, not quite fully, modified and we’ll make a decision on him but he’s very, very close.”
- **Reece James**: “Reece is a little bit further away.”
No other fresh injury concerns were raised. Rosenior stressed a cautious, fitness-first approach to avoid setbacks.
### Enzo Fernandez’s Return
The Argentine midfielder, who served a two-match ban following comments about his future, has fully reintegrated:
- “Enzo has been training with the group, he’s been training very, very well and it’s just business as usual in terms of the selection for the game.”
- On any potential group tension: “Not that I’m aware of, no… Enzo’s come back to the group this week. The group’s been fantastic… and his application to training, and our group’s application to training, so no.”
Fernandez is available and in contention for Saturday’s squad.
### Manchester United Preview
Rosenior showed respect for the visitors and their manager Michael Carrick:
- “Michael, firstly as a player, I greatly admire him. Secondly, as a coach, I know he’s an amazing coach… I’m not surprised in terms of the points return that he’s got there.”
- On United’s current standing (third in the table): “We know we have to play our best to win a difficult game on Saturday.”
- He refused to discuss individual United players or any perceived weaknesses: “No, I don’t talk about individuals of other teams. We have a way that we play.”
Rosenior acknowledged United’s recent scheduling advantages but dismissed any excuses: “We need to win this game and we need to play on the front foot with energy. And if we do that, we’ll give ourselves a really good chance to win the game.”
### Current Form, Pressure & Mentality
Chelsea have struggled for results recently (one win in six league games) and suffered a 0-3 home defeat to Manchester City last weekend. Rosenior was honest but positive:
- “We’re not in a good place in terms of the results… In this moment, you find out about yourself, you find out about your group, and you actually just have to stay focused on the process.”
- On chance creation vs finishing: “In terms of chance creation, we’re actually still very good… We just haven’t taken those moments. We need to be more clinical. We need to be more ruthless in both boxes.”
- On belief in Champions League qualification: “Of course they still believe, of course we still believe. I don’t know why you would ask that question, I don’t understand why you would.”
- On reacting to setbacks: “What I want to see the team do is go and push for the first goal, and not give the first goal up… We’re not as far away as probably what it feels like, but what we have to do is manage the margins of the game a little bit better.”
He highlighted strong recent training sessions and group conversations, insisting the squad’s spirit and effort remain intact.
### Fan Protest & External Noise
A protest against the club’s ownership is planned for Saturday. Rosenior addressed it respectfully:
- “Can you understand the fans feeling disheartened? … Every supporter has their viewpoint. Every supporter wants their club to do well and to win games of football. Our job, my job with the team, is to produce those results in the long term. I respect any fan’s points of view, but that’s not my focus. My focus is on winning the game on Saturday.”
- On external pressure: “The noise is not anything that you can control. What you can control are your group in terms of our spirit, which I don’t think has ever been in question.”
### Overall Tone & Outlook
Rosenior struck a measured, determined tone — acknowledging the difficult period without panic. He repeatedly emphasised controlling what is controllable: performance, energy, application, and clinical execution. With six or seven games left, he framed Saturday as a “must-win” opportunity to regain momentum in the race for Champions League football.
The full official video of the press conference is available on the Chelsea FC YouTube channel and website. Chelsea face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening (kick-off time TBC in the Premier League schedule).
Watch Below:
We Breathe Blue
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