Liam Rosenior is enjoying a good start to life as Chelsea manager, and that run continued when he led his side into a crucial Champions League game against Napoli this week.
Needing a win to guarantee their place in the top eight, the manager had Joao Pedro to thank for a sensational second-half brace that saw them secure a sixth-place finish.
Rosenior was delighted with the fight he saw from his players, and he got the impact he desired from a number of substitutes. Cole Palmer produced two assists off the bench.
Another player who came on was Jamie Gittens, however he received the unfortunate treatment of being a substitute who was brought off again.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Benoit Badiashile was thrown on in the final moments in order to bring a physical presence onto the pitch after their opponents had subbed on Romelu Lukaku.
Rosenior has admitted in an interview with Sky Sports that he felt sorry for Gittens, although knew it was the right decision to make in the context of the game.
He said: “I felt for Jamie Gittens because I brought him on and I took him off, but I felt that was the right decision for the team. But I want them to feel that they’re part of something really, really special here and that includes me in in the staff of that.”
It has not been the strongest start to life at Chelsea for Gittens, and this moment is one that could easily damage his confidence even further.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGittens’ Chelsea struggles continue
Up to now, Gittens still has just one goal to his name in a Chelsea shirt, with that coming in spectacular fashion in the EFL Cup against Wolves.
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The fact that Chelsea held an interest in Antoine Semenyo suggests they are not completely convinced by how their new wingers have taken to life in West London.
Gittens has been tipped to thrive under Rosenior due to the manager’s ability to work with young players from his time at Strasbourg.
However, it feels unlikely he will get a chance to do this from the start when the Blues host West Ham in the Premier League.
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