In Round 25 of the Premier League, Chelsea took a precious away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Before the match, Blues manager Rosénier attended a press conference to answer media questions. His responce on his friction with an Arsenal staff during pre-match warm-up against Arsenal ignited controversy.
There is a video circulating where you shouted at someone before the match. Was that an Arsenal player?
It wasn't a player. I respect people. During warm-ups, you have your half, and the opponents have theirs. I have never asked my players or coaching staff to interupt at the opponent's area. At that moment, I thought their positioning was inappropriate and affected my players and staff's warm-up. So I asked them—maybe not in the politest tone—to stay in their own half. I'm not here to play mind games; I just insist on what I think is right and mutual respect. I hope we can respect each other, and other teams can do the same.
If you don't mind, what exactly made you so angry?
There are basic etiquettes in football. I always try to maintain respect. Of course I want to win, but I have never instructed my coaches to do anything over the line. I have no conflict with anyone at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is an excellent manager, and I have great respect for him. It's just that at that moment, I felt my team was not given due respect.
Back to Cole Palmer—does it frustrate you that he can play but you seem unable to fully utilize his abilities for now?
You certainly want all players to be at 100% all the time, but reality isn't like that. It's not just Cole—all players are in this situation, especially with our schedule. I won't use the word "frustrate". I'm trying to get the best out of both him and the whole team. Also, I'm considering the many upcoming games and competitions we're still in to ensure we remain strong in April and May. All these factors influence my decisions.
When you can only use him in certain games, how do you maximize his impact?
This isn't about "only using him in certain games". As I said before, everything is day by day. The key is to ensure he feels good and can contribute to the team in the way he wants. I'll keep working on that. I believe soon he'll be able to play every game, every minute, and I'll be very happy then.
Where is his best position? Do you think it's the No.10 role?
His best position is on the pitch.
Have you talked to Garnacho about his recent performance? He's received a lot of criticism...
I've talked to all players. I don't know where these criticisms come from. I think this is part of what you have to endure when playing or coaching for such a great club. Like all players here, Garnacho had a tough first half against West Ham. But when he came on as a substitute against Arsenal, he showed many bright moments. He'll be very important for us. There are many games ahead, and he'll have plenty of opportunities to show his strength.
How did the players react after Tuesday night's game?
It was a heavy blow. We believed we could have advanced. In the locker room after the game, the lads were very frustrated, which is understandable. But I've talked to them. Setbacks happen in life; the key is how you respond. In today's training and our meetings, everyone reacted positively. Now we must focus on the future.
Are you getting closer to finding your ideal starting eleven?
I was asked this question not long ago. There's no such thing as an "ideal eleven" for me. I don't think that's the right mindset. What you have is the best starting lineup for a specific game and the best closing lineup. I've been getting to know this team through every game and training session—not just games, but also their performance and character in training. They know the path I want to take with this club and with them. I'm always evaluating who can help us keep moving in the right direction.