Jody Morris on Liam Rosenior, BlueCo ownership and Arsenal challenge

With Liam Rosenior recently appointed as manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca, expectations among Chelsea supporters are high, yet tempered by inconsistent performances. Off the pitch, questions continue to swirl around BlueCo’s ownership model, the long‑term strategy at Stamford Bridge, and how that vision aligns with the club’s ambitions on the field.

With Champions League qualification still very much the target and an important two‑leg Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on the horizon, former Chelsea star Jody Morris addressed all of these topics and more in a candid discussion with AceOdds.com about the direction of his former club.

Expectations for Liam Rosenior

Morris began by setting the tone for what supporters should expect from Rosenior, making it clear that Chelsea’s objectives remain unchanged.

“Expectation wise, I don't think we should differ from what they were at the beginning of the season. They have to be looking at achieving Champions League football and try to go deep in competitions. I am not the type of person who thinks you can win something every year but the fact that they won trophies last season puts us in the situation where we can try to compete.”

“I think they have to do better than what they are doing at the moment, hence why they changed the manager. After watching the first game, I don't think there is too much of a difference between what Enzo Maresca was playing and what Liam Rosenior want to do.”

Morris reiterated that Rosenior should be looking at getting a Champions League spot at the end of the season and continuing to build on the club’s achievements from last year’s campaign.

“I don't think the expectations should change and I also think he will continue down the same road. We should be looking at Champions League football and build on what they did last season because they haven't really done that this season, which probably has been one of the biggest disappointments.”

“I am sure Liam Rosenior has the same expectations as well. He has already expressed how excited he is to work with such talented players.”

In terms of the Blues’ immediate future, they are currently priced at 9/4 to win the first leg of their aforementioned Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal tomorrow. If you fancy backing them to do so, you can use our free bet calculator to see how much you could stand to earn.

Will early struggles lead to Rosenior’s exit?

When asked whether a poor start could prompt another managerial change, Morris urged caution and perspective.

“Talking too far ahead would be a bit silly, because we have to see what he is bringing to the table. Knowing Liam a bit already, I know how good he is and he has done amazing so far in his career. He has done amazing things at Strasbourg.”

He highlighted Rosenior’s experience with developing young talent but warned that youth doesn’t mean that they should not be scrutinised if they don’t win trophies:

“He was dealing with a young squad and was close to qualifying them for the Champions League, which shows me he is good at working with younger players.”

“Everyone always loves talking about how young Chelsea's squad is, and I don't necessarily buy into that when people are saying we have all the time in the world. I think we have been going for a few years now, and yes we are buying younger players but there is a reason why we are buying them.”

“Now, they have to show what they are capable of and that will certainly go beyond this season, for sure.”

BlueCo ownership and strategic direction

Morris acknowledged the shifting landscape under Chelsea’s current owners and how fans have had to adjust, addressing the criticism over the club’s recruitment strategy, particularly the focus on younger players.

“The ownership has certainly required an adjustment for all of us Chelsea fans. I think it is really difficult to comment on them from a football aspect. If you are a fan, you are looking at them to put their hand in the pocket. We are looking at who they want to buy, and they haven't been shy at putting their hand in the pocket, I think everyone can see that.”

“Everyone can see the amount of money we spend. I think the argument people have that they are mostly buying younger players, because what do they want to achieve? Do they want to win something or are they just looking to sell and make a profit.”

Morris also pointed out a perceived shift in the club’s power structure, stating that Maresca’s exit didn’t surprise him.

“From the outside it looks like Todd Boehly isn't the main man at the moment, so maybe there has been a bit of a shift. Like I said, it has been an adjustment and there are certainly question marks.”

“The Maresca sacking didn't shock me at all, even though I think he did alright, but whenever you talk like that as a manager, regardless of what the reasons were, it just did not shock me.”

“Regardless of the type of ownership you are, when a person is speaking like that publicly. Maybe he thought he was signing up for a different job than what he ended up having.”

“They have a model they want to follow, and that doesn't please every fan at all, and maybe the managers want more experienced players also. The younger players are not always strengthening you straight away, which managers obviously want.”

Morris believes some fan unease stems from a lack of clarity around the club’s direction.

“So, I think the fans being unhappy is not necessarily due to the sacking of Maresca, but maybe because they are a bit lost in terms of what direction the club is going.”

He praised Rosenior for his communication, something he sees as a crucial link between the dugout and hierarchy.

“One of Liam's strong points is that he is a strong communicator, and if he is an extension of what is going up further up in the hierarchy, I imagine he would communicate it a bit better and it will be good for the people upstairs to have it delivered directly rather than to the press.”

“I am sure the owners and the fans are behind Liam, but whether you get that translated in terms of the fans supporting the ownership is unsure.”

Chelsea’s Arsenal test

Turning to Chelsea’s showdown with Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, particularly given their 1‑1 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, Morris offered a measured but optimistic view.

"Some of the team selection against Charlton from Liam was probably with Arsenal in mind. Resting a few of the boys."

"We were great against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge with 10 men, Reece James particularly was unbelievable in that game."

"We tend to do a little bit better against the better teams, so that's why I would never write us off.”

“Would I make us favourites against Arsenal? Absolutely not. But we've seen what we can do against the better teams already and I have to give Maresca a mention there. When you see what we did to PSG in the final, for me it's the best final performance from a Chelsea team ever."

"We all know that the Club World Cup is a bit of an indifferent tournament. Some of the best teams in the world were not there but the best team in Europe was there and we played them in the final."

"We've got a great opportunity to win something. You're quite right. But we need to be at our best to get past Arsenal."

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