HULL, England — It was the draw his late grandmother might have wished for, yet Liam Rosenior exhibited no compassion towards his former club Hull City on Friday.
As Chelsea celebrated their third goal at the hour mark, Rosenior joined hands with Enzo Fernández, a World Cup champion acquired for £106million, and sent him onto the field.
The optimism for Hull City had long faded in the frigid MKM Stadium, where approximately 20 of Rosenior’s family and friends sought tickets for this FA Cup fourth round encounter to witness the 41-year-old return to the venue where he spent seven seasons, five as a player and two in a coaching role.
Rosenior’s grandmother, a former season-ticket holder for Hull, has sadly passed away, but on Monday, the new Chelsea manager nostalgically remarked that “she did the draw” to match his current team with his past.
The home supporters likely did not enjoy watching their team being dismantled so thoroughly — Chelsea ultimately triumphed 4-0 — but when the discomfort fades, they may take some pride in the position Rosenior currently holds.
Rosenior’s first permanent managerial role was at Hull in 2022, and the local fans recall the creativity he brought to their football.
This trend has persisted to the point where he had enough confidence in this Chelsea squad — which, it should be noted, squandered a 2-0 lead against Leeds United just three days prior — to implement eight changes while facing a team currently ranked fourth in the Championship.
Rosenior has now secured eight victories in his 11 matches in charge — a streak that perhaps makes it easier to overlook that he is still working to convince some of the Chelsea supporters of his suitability for the position.
Having transitioned from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg, Rosenior’s critics view him as somewhat of a puppet for the BlueCo ownership group, but he is resolute in not allowing that to undermine his courage.
Defeat here would have been exceedingly awkward, but they were never truly at risk of an uncomfortable evening — aside from a brief period when rain turned to gusty snow and Chelsea’s failure to capitalize on their early opportunities.
Alejandro Garnacho failed to score when he was sent through on goal in the ninth minute. Estêvão then rounded Phillips but sent his shot over an open net. Competing with the Brazilian for the title of biggest offender was Liam Delap, who pressured Phillips, with the rebound striking the crossbar and bouncing close to the line. What ensued was a mix of half-hearted celebration and failure to react, and instead of converting the loose ball, his second attempt was saved.
Pedro Neto converted the most challenging chance they created, scoring a low 20-yard shot five minutes before halftime. Neto’s corner in the 51st minute found its way past a crowd of players at the near post and into the net, before Delap displayed excellent strength to break free and set up Estêvão for an easy finish.
Neto completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute following more impressive work from Delap. Lewis Koumas struck the post for Hull during stoppage time, but by that stage, Rosenior had also been able to introduce teenager Jesse Derry for his debut.
“What I’m quickly realizing is not just that they are good players, they are exceptional professionals,” said Rosenior. “I felt it was a professional performance tonight against a very strong team vying for the Premier League. This is not an easy match. Some of our football was everything I want to see, but prior to that, the values of what the team represents made me a very satisfied coach.
“I will always hold a special, special feeling for this club, regardless of how I was received today, but the fans here are top-notch. I’ve had so many positive moments, and I appreciate and thank them for the reception they gave me.”
Rosenior’s adaptability has been a significant early aspect of his tenure, and this was an immensely beneficial night for Neto in particular.
The role of a Chelsea winger is consistently precarious. The club seems to recruit new wide players in nearly every transfer window, and with Estevao’s exciting rise continuing and Geovany Quenda joining from Sporting CP this summer, Neto’s position on the right flank for next season appears somewhat uncertain.
His versatility is therefore a highly valuable asset, and Neto, 25, has started seven of Rosenior’s 11 matches in various positions. In fact, Rosenior noted that Neto played in three different roles in one match against Arsenal last month.
At Hull, with Cole Palmer absent from the matchday squad, Neto operated in the No. 10 role, and his opening goal resulted from occupying that attacking space. He concluded with the first hat-trick of his senior career, a response to some of the online criticism he receives, which Rosenior was asked about afterward.
“No, I’m not aware of it, and I don’t understand why that would be the case because Pedro Neto offers us so many challenging qualities,” Rosenior stated. “For me, he is a world-class player. He is a world-class winger, and what I appreciate about him, as talented and gifted as he is, is the sacrifices he makes for the team at times. He will be crucial to what we can achieve for the remainder of the season.”
With that, Rosenior departed for “a beer,” he mentioned, with his counterpart Sergej Jakirovic before heading upstairs to meet Hull’s owner, Acun Illicali.
In the closing moments, the home fans requested Rosenior to wave at them. He complied. It was the only gesture he offered them all night as Chelsea advances.
