Joe Cole Voices Support for Xabi Alonso as Potential Chelsea Head Coach

 Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has publicly expressed his admiration for Xabi Alonso and suggested the Spaniard would be an ideal candidate to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking candidly, Cole highlighted Alonso’s impressive managerial work and deep understanding of elite football environments.

“I’d love to see Xabi Alonso at the club,” Cole said. “I loved watching his Bayer Leverkusen team. I think he was hard done by at Real Madrid. He understands massive clubs. He’s a winner.”

Alonso has earned widespread recognition for his tactical intelligence and leadership, particularly following his success with Bayer Leverkusen, where his dynamic style of play and strong results have drawn attention across Europe.

Cole emphasized that Alonso’s experience as both a player and coach at top-tier institutions makes him uniquely equipped to handle the pressures associated with managing a club of Chelsea’s stature.

However, Cole also acknowledged the challenges in attracting Alonso to West London.

“The sad thing is, I don’t think Xabi Alonso would even consider Chelsea,” he added.

Chelsea have continued their search for long-term stability and direction, with ongoing discussions about the club’s managerial future. While Alonso remains highly regarded within football circles, any potential move would depend on a range of factors, including his current commitments and long-term ambitions.

As speculation continues, Cole’s endorsement adds to the growing conversation around Chelsea’s next managerial appointment and the caliber of leadership required to return the club to consistent success.

Chelsea’s hierarchy is reportedly resistant to the idea of appointing Jose Mourinho for a third managerial spell

 Chelsea’s hierarchy is reportedly resistant to the idea of appointing Jose Mourinho for a third managerial spell despite growing fan pressure following Liam Rosenior’s exit. While the legendary Portuguese coach is currently excelling at Benfica, club insiders suggest that a fairytale return to west London is unlikely as the board prioritises other candidates.

Chelsea are currently searching for a permanent successor to Rosenior, who was dismissed after failing to stabilise the club's fortunes during his brief tenure. While supporters have frequently chanted Mourinho's name during difficult periods, the board appears to be leaning towards younger tactical profiles such as Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola or Fulham’s Marco Silva. Despite Mourinho's historic ties to the club, the current ownership remains focused on a different long-term vision for the first-team squad.

The prospect of a romantic reunion between Chelsea and their most decorated manager appears increasingly remote, with the club's decision-makers appearing determined to move in a different direction. Rather than a return to the Premier League, current expectations suggest the "Special One" is preparing for a transition from club football to the international stage in the near future.

Breaking down the board's internal view on the situation and Mourinho's likely next move, journalist Ben Jacobs told GiveMeSport: "Chelsea have always downplayed Jose Mourinho returning. So something would have to change there. It’s worth just noting that Mourinho is expected to be a free agent and a lot of people actually think that he’s quite likely to walk into the Portugal job after the World Cup."

Mourinho remains a towering figure in Chelsea history across two distinct periods of immense success. His first spell between 2004 and 2007 yielded 124 wins from 185 games and two league titles, while his 2013 return saw him secure a third Premier League crown and another League Cup before his 2015 departure. Although he recently visited Stamford Bridge in the Champions League with Benfica, club sources insist the focus remains on managers with more contemporary Premier League experience who align with BlueCo's recruitment strategy.

Calum McFarlane will take temporary charge of the first team until the end of the season, allowing Behdad Eghbali and the sporting directors to carefully vet their next appointment. The club is reportedly prioritising candidates with proven Premier League pedigree to avoid the mistakes made with previous inexperienced appointments. While Mourinho's shadow continues to loom over the stadium, the board's interest in Silva and Iraola suggests they are moving away from the "Special One" era.

A beautiful and Happy Birthday to ESTEVAO

 

Estêvão to miss rest of season, World Cup with very serious hamstring injury

 Estêvão was forced off early on in Saturday night’s game against Manchester United with an apparent hamstring injury, and while initial hopes were that it wouldn’t be too bad of a problem, reports today are indicating otherwise. In fact, he may have suffered the worst possible version.

Most healthcare providers categorize muscle strains into three grades: mild (Grade 1), moderate (Grade 2), or severe (Grade 3). But The Athletic, and several other outlets, are calling it a “Grade 4” hamstring strain fro Estêvão! I’m not sure how much worse a Grade 4 might be over what’s usually defined as Grade 3, which is a complete tear, but either way, it’s likely to result in a multi-month absence, perhaps as long as six or more if there’s surgery involved. And surgery is commonly recommended as the best course of treatment for a Grade 3 injury.

Either way, Estêvão’s certainly out for the rest of the season and probably the World Cup as well. And if he needs surgery, then it might be a few months into next season before we see him again. Not great!

The youngster is two days shy of his 19th birthday, and thus finished the season with 36 appearances (20 starts) across all competitions with 8 goals and 4 assists. Not too shabby for his first season in Europe. Presumably he will only get better, though first we will have to make absolutely sure that he fully recovers from this injury and it doesn’t become a recurring one like it so often happens.

Alan Shearer has insisted 'everything feeds down from the bosses' after assessing Chelsea as a 'bonkers' club

 Alan Shearer has insisted 'everything feeds down from the bosses' after assessing Chelsea as a 'bonkers' club following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior was dismissed by the Blues on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat at Brighton condemned them to a fifth straight Premier League defeat without scoring a goal.

The 41-year-old was appointed on a six-and-a-half year deal by Chelsea on January 6, following Enzo Maresca's shock departure on New Year's Day, but lasted just 106 days in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

Speaking to Betfair, former England and Newcastle striker Shearer was sympathetic to Rosenior, as he insisted there was 'no way' he could have turned down the Chelsea job when approached in December.

Shearer stressed that the Chelsea owners BlueCo need to 'look at themselves' over their decision to appoint an inexperienced coach, while labelling their approach as 'bonkers'.

He claimed it was 'laughable' that the club have over a billion pounds on players, only to be short of quality in key areas of the team.

Everything eventually filters down to the pitch from what's going on up top in football,' Shearer told Betfair.

'Everything feeds down from the bosses and that's what's happened to Chelsea. The players are on an absolute fortune, and you can tell they do not agree with what is happening at the club, albeit they are a huge part of it. They were alright taking the seven-year contracts.

'The players have been nowhere near good enough. I watched them against Brighton, and they were an absolute shambles. The manager was searching to do something different with a new system at half-time, but they were equally as poor, if not worse, in the second half. That tells you what players think of the current setup.

'It is laughable how much money Chelsea have spent and still don’t have top quality players.

'It all depends for Chelsea going forward towards the end of the season on what their belief is like. Are they prepared to change? Clearly, this model is not working, and they have to understand that.

'They have spent an absolute fortune, over a billion pounds, and they still have not got a top-class goalkeeper, centre half, or centre forward. How do you spend that much money and lack top quality players in those three major positions?

'You spend that much money and that's the reality of it, you're going further and further down the league. There's no doubt there's talented players in there, but it's laughable you spend that much money and still don't have a top-quality player in those three positions.'

Shearer's criticism mirrors similar views from Gary Neville, who claimed on Wednesday that Chelsea's owners 'haven't got a clue what they're doing'.

This policy at Chelsea, this plan, I don't see it,' Neville told Sky Sports. 'These six and eight-year agreements that they give - it's almost laughable from the start, whether it be for a manager or a player.

'The owners haven't got a clue what they are doing. I've made massive mistakes as an owner and sometimes you've got to accept you don't know what you're doing.

'They are all over the place. I just don't get it. You deserve what you get in football and that's every single ownership, and it's a reflection upon them, not the coach.'

Rosenior joined the Blues from their sister club Strasbourg but took charge of only 23 matches before being axed.

Chelsea's dismal run has left their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League hanging by a thread.

Source: DAILYMAIL

Training gallery: Building up to Wembley

 The Blues were back to it at Cobham on Thursday, as the work ramped up ahead of this weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United.

It was another busy and productive session at our Surrey training base as the squad resumed their work before Sunday’s trip to Wembley, with everyone's attention focused on booking our place in the showpiece finale at the same venue.

Ahead of our trip to Wembley, interim Head Coach Calum McFarlane and his backroom staff put the players through their paces under the spring sunshine, with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos among those pictured in our latest training gallery.

They were joined by the defensive trio of Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo and Mamadou Sarr, while Joao Pedro also featured after the forward missed the clash with his former side Brighton last time out.

Make sure to scroll down to view some of our favourites from the session, and make sure you stay tuned to the Chelsea Official App and website for all the build-up, including McFarlane's pre-Leeds press conference tomorrow afternoon - which you can stream live and for free on official club channels.

Bompastor updates on Bright and Beever-Jones fitness ahead of Everton

 Sonia Bompastor has confirmed Chelsea will be without Mille Bright and Aggie Beever-Jones for our Women's Super League clash against Everton.

Following a near-three-week international break, the Blues return to action on Sunday with a trip to Goodison Park. Three points are needed on Merseyside as we look to seal qualification for next season's UEFA Women's Champions League.

Bright hasn't featured for Chelsea since early February due to an ankle injury sustained in a WSL victory at Tottenham Hotspur. Beever-Jones, meanwhile, has missed our previous four games.

Bompastor hoped prior to the international break that she would be able to call upon the duo for this weekend's fixture, however the Blues head coach has confirmed our defender and forward's respective recoveries are not yet complete.

'No, both of them won't be available [for the game],' explained Bompastor in her pre-match press conference. 'I think Millie's rehab is taking longer than we hoped, but Aggie is close to a return. Not for this weekend, but probably the following weekend.'

Bompastor was rejoined at Cobham on Wednesday by the Chelsea players who had travelled the globe to represent their countries during the international break.

She confirmed that nobody had returned with any injury concerns and that the players had quickly refocused on the importance of ending the season strongly.

She said: 'In terms of players' availability, we are in a good place. Everyone came back well, both mentally and physically. We had great energy yesterday on the pitch and this morning in training sessions.

'There were a lot of smiles on the faces, which I think is great – the weather helps for sure, but also the quality of the training session. I think as a group we are happy to be back together, focusing on the last block of the season. It's a really important one for us.'

Chelsea’s players feel Liam Rosenior’s successor needs to be a big character

Chelsea’s players feel Liam Rosenior’s successor needs to be a big character who can command the respect of the dressing room and keep strong egos in line.

With the search under way for the sixth permanent manager of the BlueCo era, it is understood the squad are keen for a shift in focus after failing to connect with Rosenior before his time at Stamford Bridge ended three months into a six-and-a-half-year deal.

Although Rosenior was regarded as a good person, the insider view is that he was fighting a losing battle with the players from the start because they viewed him as too inexperienced and felt he did not know how to manage top players. A source said the 41-year-old, hired as Enzo Maresca’s replacement in January, tried to be a friend to the players behind closed doors, was regarded as an awkward communicator and held too many one-to-one meetings.

Rosenior, who was fired after Brighton damaged Chelsea’s faint Champions League hopes by handing them their fifth consecutive league defeat on Tuesday, ran into problems when Enzo Fernández was hit with an internal two-game suspension after questioning the club’s project and talking up a move to Real Madrid. Fernández is a leading figure in the dressing room – he was worn the captain’s armband when Reece James has been out – and the controversy around the Argentina midfielder is said to have created too much noise.

The squad’s Spanish speakers are said to have been particularly lukewarm on Rosenior’s ability as a coach. Fernández and Marc Cucurella, the Spain left-back, made clear they missed Maresca. The Italian, who was popular with players and regarded as a top coach, left in acrimonious circumstances on New Year’s Day. Chelsea did not fire him and had no desire to make a mid-season change; aggrieved insiders have pinned the blame on the season descending into chaos on what they view as Maresca spoiling his relationship with the hierarchy after 18 promising months in charge.

Rosenior was brought in from Strasbourg, Chelsea’s partner club, and his appointment fitted with the BlueCo model of finding up-and-coming progressive managers who can work in collaboration with Chelsea’s five sporting directors. But the fallout from Rosenior’s demise has left the club keen to bring in a manager with top-level experience and the players are similarly convinced they need to be coached by someone with greater standing in the game.

There is also a desire for someone with a track record of dealing with players from multiple backgrounds. The sense is that Chelsea have a talented group but that some of the younger players need time to develop and are having to learn too quickly because of the inexperience of the squad.

Chelsea, who have placed Calum McFarlane in charge until the summer, have been stalked by indiscipline this season and Rosenior was unable to improve behaviour. A challenge for the board will be convincing a leading manager that moving to Stamford Bridge would represent the right career move. There is interest in Andoni Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season, but the Spaniard’s intentions remain unclear and some sources are doubtful he would want to join Chelsea.

Other candidates include Como’s Cesc Fàbregas. Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernández are out of work and Fulham’s Marco Silva could be available. Chelsea have previously made checks on Filipe Luís, their former left-back, who coached Flamengo to multiple trophies before being sacked last month.

Source: Guardian 

Manchester City are reportedly exploring a potential move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández

 Manchester City are reportedly exploring a potential move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández as part of a broader summer rebuild in the center of the pitch, according to The Athletic.

The Premier League champions are understood to be assessing a range of midfield options ahead of the new season, with Fernández emerging as one of several names under consideration. Newcastle United’s Elliot Anderson is also among the profiles being monitored, as City look to refresh and future-proof their squad.

This recruitment drive comes amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of key midfield figures, including Bernardo Silva, whose potential departure could create space for reinforcements. City are believed to be preparing proactively for such changes, prioritizing depth and versatility in midfield.

Fernández, who joined Chelsea in 2023 on a long-term contract, remains a central figure at Stamford Bridge. However, his situation has attracted ongoing attention as clubs across Europe continue to reshape their squads. While interest from Real Madrid has also been noted, no formal offers have been made for the Argentine international at this stage.

Manchester City’s approach to the transfer window remains fluid, with multiple options being evaluated before any concrete moves are made. Strengthening the midfield is understood to be a key objective as the club aims to maintain its competitive edge domestically and in Europe.

William Gallas has urged Chelsea to looking at plucking a head coach from La Liga to solve their ongoing crisis

 William Gallas has urged Chelsea to looking at plucking a head coach from La Liga to solve their ongoing crisis. The former defender believes the Blues need a "harsh" leader to transform their young squad into winners.

Gallas has called on the Chelsea hierarchy to consider a move for Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, believing the Argentine is the perfect candidate to demand more from a young squad after Liam Rosenior was sacked on Wednesday.

Speaking to BoyleSports, the former Blues centre-back suggested that while long-term projects have their place, a club of Chelsea’s stature should be prioritising immediate trophies, and he thinks Simeone is the right man.

"What kind of manager did Chelsea need? I think it all depends on what you are looking for," Gallas explained. "For the long-term, you can bring in Cesc Fabregas because he is doing well with his club at the moment. He is young and able to speak to a young squad. He's doing a good job. In the long term, he can bring Chelsea back to the positions where everybody wants to see Chelsea.

"If you are thinking about the short-term, to have success straight away, they need that experienced head to guide them like Diego Simone and with his personality he can win things very soon with Chelsea. Maybe the Chelsea players need him too because we need to see more warriors and soldiers in the team after what they’ve shown us. I think you need that type of manager who is a little bit more harsh on the players."

The tenure of Rosenior has come under heavy fire, with Gallas suggesting that the appointment was a mistake from the beginning. Recent heavy defeats have only solidified the feeling that the current direction is unsustainable, putting immense pressure on Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital group.

"With Chelsea’s owners, anything can happen," he added. "Nobody knows what is going to happen next. It was really difficult to accept the results they've had. Like against Paris Saint-Germain, an 8-2 loss is very hard to take and they lost 3-0 to Everton. You don't know if they are already looking for a new manager. Maybe they knew they made a mistake to bring Liam in.

“It was to sack him before the end of the season. I don't think it's a good idea for anybody but for the manager, it would be a disaster. For the fans, it would cause even more frustration against the owners.”

Rosenior's sacking came shortly after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League, which left them languishing in eighth place and further diminished their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

While names like Marco Silva, Edin Terzic, and Xabi Alonso have been linked with the vacancy, Gallas’ call for a high-profile disciplinarian like Simeone highlights the growing frustration among former players regarding the club's lack of on-pitch identity. With the season reaching its climax, the board faces immense pressure to find a leader capable of stabilising a squad that has failed to score in its last five league matches.

Two former Blues inducted into WSL Hall of Fame

 The Women’s Super League has today welcomed ex-Chelsea defender Casey Stoney into its Hall of Fame, as well as a posthumous induction for the late former Blues boss Matt Beard.

The awards come as recognition of their individual outstanding contributions to the women’s professional game, and the decision was made by a panel featuring former players, coaches, officials, journalists and key figures.

This year's WSL Hall of Fame alumni were handed the chance to join the panel and cast their votes, with ex-Blues Anita Asante, Katie Chapman and Emma Hayes involved alongside former referee Rebecca Welch and Steph Houghton, Rachel Yankey, Jill Scott and Alex Scott.

Beard’s reign at Chelsea began in 2009, and he made history when taking charge of our first WSL fixture in 2011. The popular coach helped shape Chelsea Women during his three years in charge (2009 to 2012) and laid many foundations before Emma Hayes' arrival. He also guided the Blues to our first Women's FA Cup final in 2012.

Spells at Liverpool and West Ham United followed, and he went on to win two league titles whilst on Merseyside in 2013 and 2014, and led the Hammers to the 2019 Women’s FA Cup Final.

It was back in 2007 when Stoney first joined the Blues, and after a short stint as player-manager, she worked closely under Beard during those early days until leaving for Lincoln Ladies in 2010.

After hanging up her boots in 2018, Stoney would go on to become the first coach of Manchester United's women's team, and is now in charge of the Canada Women's National Team, where she can now name Chelsea's Kadeisha Buchanan on her roster.

The former Chelsea duo will be officially inducted during next month's WSL awards.

Chelsea bring manager's dismal spell to an end after just 106 DAYS in charge

 Liam Rosenior has been sacked as Chelsea head coach after less than four months in charge, following their 3-0 defeat by Brighton.

Rosenior was appointed by Chelsea on January 6 following Enzo Maresca's shock departure on New Year's Day.

The 41-year-old joined the Blues from their sister club Strasbourg, signing a six-and-a-half year deal.

Despite the long-term deal, Chelsea have axed the coach after just 23 matches in charge with Calum McFarlane taking interim charge until the end of the season.

‘Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior,' a club statement read.

'On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

CHELSEA STATEMENT IN FULL 

Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior.

On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-way through the season.

This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.

Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.

As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-way through the season.

‘This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.

‘Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.

‘As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.’

The Blues hierarchy have acted after a run of five successive defeats in the Premier League, with Rosenior's side failing to score in each of them.

Chelsea's dismal run has left their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League hanging by a thread.

The Blues slipped to seventh in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Brighton leapfrogging them in the table after Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck earned the Seagulls a 3-0 victory at the Amex.

The result left Chelsea seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League spot and have a game in hand. 

Chelsea will next be in action on Sunday when they face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

Rosenior, who won 11, drew two and lost 10 of his 23 matches in charge, had expressed his confidence that the Chelsea board were backing him ahead of the match against Brighton.

'100 per cent,' Rosenior said on Monday. 'They’ve been supportive of me in our daily conversations, the sporting directors involved - they’ve been magnificent in their support of me and the team.

'We’re aligned that we know we need to win games of football now. That doesn’t go against what we’re trying to do, which is to give consistent success to this club long term.'

Rosenior's departure comes just days after Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali stressed the club were working to have 'stability on the manager side'.

'Our policy has been no in-season (head coach) changes,' Eghbali said last week in Los Angeles. 'You certainly review and hold not only the manager, but the management team, the sporting team, accountable, but typically in the summers, not in season.

'It's not a change we wanted to make (Enzo Maresca leaving). It's a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you're changing systems and personnel, and it's one we've got to fight our way out of.

'We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final coming up. So, hopefully the story of this season hasn't been written yet, and you've got a lot to fight for. In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you've got to fight back, you've got to stand up and fight. And it's going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.

'I think the perspective is stability, and frankly, getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven't done right yet, and it's something we're striving to improve on.'

Legendary Chelsea captain John Terry has confirmed he has not received a call to form part of interim boss Calum McFarlane's staff after Liam Rosenior's sacking

 McFarlane was placed in charge of the Blues until the end of this season on Wednesday, starting with the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds on Sunday.

It followed Chelsea's hierarchy dismissing Rosenior after just 106 days in charge, having overseen a run of five straight defeats in the Premier League without scoring.

McFarlane had previously led the Blues in January after Enzo Maresca's shock departure on New Year's Day, with the 40-year-old overseeing a 1-1 draw with Man City.

He became part of Rosenior's staff following his appointment as head coach, but will now step up again in an interim capacity.

Terry, who has a part-time consultancy role within Chelsea's academy set-up, admitted in February he had been frustrated to have been overlooked to be part of McFarlane's staff against Man City having worked alongside him with the Blues under-21s and under-18s. 

Reacting to Rosenior's dismissal and McFarlane's interim role, Terry confirmed on TikTok that he has not been contacted about potentially having a role within the set-up.

'I am not sure what Calum’s backroom staff is going to look like, I have not had a call, I have not had a message,' Terry said.

'I will be continuing my role in the academy, I will be in the academy tomorrow, a big couple of games coming up.

'We will all get behind Calum, he did a great job away against Man City previously and we will get behind the boys because that is what we do.'

Daily Mail Sport has been told by someone close to Terry that he would have loved to work with Chelsea's squad, and that the feeling might even be mutual inside the changing room.

Terry, who last week fuelled speculation over a £14m takeover of Colchester United after attending their match with Accrington Stanley, also spoke of his concerns about the state of his former side.

The Chelsea legend admitted he was worried for the club's future, as he questioned whether a top manager would be prepared to join the Blues at the moment.

He cited the potential for the club to miss out on European football and potentially having to sell star names, in an apparent reference to their recent financial results. 

'I sit here worrying tonight about what is going to happen with our football club,' Terry said.

'Looking at us needing a manager after the weekend, I’m not sure when ownership are going to make a decision and bring a new manager in. 

'Is a real top manager going to come to Chelsea football club at the moment in the position we are in? Can’t buy players, looking like we are going to have to sell potentially and that will be our best players, which is always tough.

'We will not be playing in European football, I hope I am wrong.

'Really, really frustrated and worried more importantly. I feel the anger, feel the frustration of the Chelsea supporters.

'But listen, I’ve seen 17 managers in my era come and go as Chelsea captain. What the players have to do is just get together and really focus on the weekend’s game and forget about all the noise around and everything.

'We have a massive game, it is really difficult but also really easy to do as players to forget the noise and focus on what’s ahead of you and that is the Leeds game at the weekend. 

'We’ve seen this time and time and time again, but maybe the future isn’t as clear as we’ve always seen.'

Chelsea fans had voiced their frustrations at the club's ownership and Rosenior during the 3-0 defeat on Tuesday, which ultimately proved the head coach's final match in charge.

The result left the Blues in seventh place in the Premier League, denting their hopes of earning Champions League qualification for next season.

Chelsea slipped to eighth on Wednesday after Bournemouth earned a 2-2 draw against Leeds.

When confirming Rosenior's exit, Chelsea's hierarchy stated there would be a period of 'self-reflection' as they begin the search for a new head coach.

'Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior,' a club statement read.

'On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

‘Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-way through the season.

‘This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.

‘Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.

‘As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.’

Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior.

 On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.

Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season.

This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.

Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.

As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.

Chelsea FC Women to call Stamford Bridge home: A new era begins

 Chelsea FC Women (CFCW) today announces that from the 2026/27 season the first team will play all Women’s Super League matches at Stamford Bridge.

Following consultation with the Chelsea Women players, partners, our Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and other CFCW fan groups, the women's team will make the iconic ground its permanent home. The legendary stadium, in the heart of west London and long-standing home to 40,000 passionate football fans, will welcome the eight-time WSL champions and supporters from September.

Stamford Bridge will give CFCW a stage befitting the club’s achievements and ambition, a place to compete and win. It is more than a venue - it is a statement of intent. With every Barclays WSL fixture set to be played at Stamford Bridge, this move reflects the club’s unwavering belief in the long-term opportunity in women’s football as well as the responsibility the club has to help push the game forward.

By establishing a permanent home at Stamford Bridge, CFCW is investing not just in today, but in a legacy. Playing at Stamford Bridge will elevate visibility, provide consistency for fans, unlock potential, and inspire the next generation as the sport continues to grow.

The stadium move is announced alongside the launch of a new brand identity: Never Done – a movement as well as a reflection of the CFCW spirit, encapsulating what the club stands for and how CFCW approaches everything it does on and off the pitch, not just for now but for the next generation.

Inspired by the Chelsea family, players past and present, our fans and our community, CFCW has an ever-ambitious drive to break down barriers and push the game forwards in every way. CFCW is never done winning, never done challenging itself and never done pushing for progress on and off the pitch.

Women’s football has grown exponentially in recent years, thanks to participation at a grassroots level and fans watching the action live, week-in and week-out. CFCW’s loyal fanbase at Kingsmeadow has played its part in that trajectory. Kingsmeadow has been the club’s home for almost a decade; it made CFCW the first women’s team to own their own stadium. The beloved stadium will continue to be a part of the CFCW journey, hosting more academy matches from next season and giving the next generation of Blues a place to forge their footballing careers.

At Stamford Bridge, CFCW has attracted new fans – some for their first-ever football game – and moving forward, matchdays at Stamford Bridge will offer fans old and new the breadth of experiences they have grown to love. With unmissable moments created through a variety of packages - from Families at the Bridge to the club’s sell-out hospitality offering Bottomless at the Bridge – this move provides the opportunity to continue innovating and bring supporters more of what they love.

Welcoming Blues fans and those that are new to the sport, or who want to create memories on a unique day out in London, Stamford Bridge will be an inclusive and fully accessible space for all ages and needs, with additional wheelchair space in-bowl and a fully equipped sensory room.