After leading the team to a 1-0 home victory over Pafos in Matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, Chelsea head coach Rosell spoke to the club’s official media.
Liam, first of all, heartfelt congratulations on tonight’s win. What impressed you the most about the team’s performance this evening?
It was the character the team showed—their relentless drive to keep pushing forward and knocking on the opponent’s door—and the energy they displayed when pressing to win the ball back. I thought our pressing was absolutely outstanding—it suffocated the opposition. On another day, when we’re in slightly better form, we could have scored four or five goals. But for me, it’s been a fascinating learning process during this tough period to observe and understand the resilience this group possesses. I’m genuinely pleased for the entire team because they absolutely deserved this win.
You mentioned resilience, but patience was also required—I mean, considering how difficult it was to break down their defense tonight, how important was it to stay patient?
Exactly. In the Champions League, any team that defends deep like they did tonight and tries to block every space can’t simply be overwhelmed by reckless attacks. That’s because they’re extremely quick in transitions, so you have to control the game intelligently in specific situations. I think on another day we’d still create plenty of chances, but due to some exceptional defensive blocks and a brilliant goalkeeper, we couldn’t convert more of them into goals. But overall, the most important thing is that we won the match, which puts us in a very strong position heading into the final matchday.
You just mentioned the players’ character—do you feel a genuine identity is starting to form within this group?
Yes, I really do. I truly see it. From the demands I’ve set, especially regarding what happens immediately after we lose possession, I’ve felt our pressing mentality and the positive energy throughout the team. For example, Enzo even chased all the way to press their goalkeeper. There are many very positive signs here, although obviously we still have a lot of work to do and areas to improve—that will take time. But at the same time, right now we need to win matches, and we have another very tough game coming up on Sunday.
You mentioned Enzo—I know we’ve talked about him before, but how much has his attitude and contribution to the team impressed you?
He’s absolutely top level. Enzo played the full 90 minutes tonight, and I had to substitute him last Saturday only because he was playing through illness caused by a virus—which really sums up his mentality. He is a natural leader and can play in many different positions. He craves possession, and his teammates clearly admire him greatly. In my first 10 days in charge, I feel I’ve already gotten to know him very well.
Wesley Fofana also played the full 90 minutes tonight—how impressed were you by his sharpness and overall performance?
The entire back four performed very well, and obviously Filip (Jørgensen) came on too—I made some adjustments with him. We’ve now kept clean sheets in two consecutive matches, which is certainly no small achievement. We must continue improving defensively, and this is already a very, very good start in that regard.
Moisés (Caicedo) scored the crucial goal tonight, and this is already his most prolific season in terms of goals—was this something you wanted to see become part of his playing style?
Yes, he scored from a set piece. I don’t know how many headers he’s scored in his career, but when you’re facing a deep defensive block, your defensive midfielders or holding midfielders often need to be near the edge of the opponent’s box. I want Moisés to use his excellent shooting ability—even tonight, he took two or three shots that were very dangerous and could easily have resulted in goals. He has the capability to score, and I hope he continues delivering that for the team.
On a personal note, having won three of your first four matches in charge, how satisfied are you with your start here?
Yes, I’m very satisfied. What I value most is how the team has responded to a mid-season managerial change, especially with matches coming every three days. If you told any manager they’d win three of their first four games, that’s definitely not a bad start. But what excites me is that I believe we still have significant room for improvement. Next, we must ensure everyone stays fit and fresh, as we’ll face a very congested fixture schedule ahead.
Finally, you mentioned the upcoming important matches—obviously there’s Crystal Palace this weekend, but how much are you looking forward to the Champions League away test against Napoli next week?
Yes, it’s certainly something to look forward to. But right now, my full focus is on the next match—a physically intense battle at Selhurst Park—and we need to prepare thoroughly for it. We’ll assess who’s fit and who’s fresher, and when the time comes for Napoli, we’ll deal with that match appropriately.