Liam Rosenior: Arsenal lacked ‘respect’ for Chelsea during semifinal preparations.

Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior acknowledged that he lost his temper with Arsenal’s players regarding what he perceives as a lack of “respect” directed towards his team prior to Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semifinal second leg.

Sky Sports cameras recorded the Blues manager in a heated exchange with the home side on the Emirates Stadium pitch before the match, accusing them of encroaching into Chelsea’s designated area.

Typically, teams occupy half of the pitch each for warm-ups, and Rosenior displayed a side of his personality that had not been seen during his tenure as he confronted the Gunners about their disregard for “etiquette.”

“When warming up, you have your half and the other team has theirs,” he stated. “At that moment, I felt it was inappropriate where they were positioned. They were interfering with my players’ warm-up.

“So I asked them, perhaps not in the most polite manner, to ensure they remained in their half. I’m not here to engage in mind games; it’s simply what I believe is right and respectful.

“There are certain standards in football. I have no issues with anyone at Arsenal. It was just that, at that moment, I felt that respect was not afforded to my team.”

Chelsea ultimately fell 1-0 to a goal from their former player Kai Havertz in the seventh minute of stoppage time, resulting in Arsenal advancing to Wembley with a 4-2 aggregate victory.

This is not the first instance of controversy surrounding pre-match warm-ups.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp often positioned himself on or near the halfway line while opposition teams conducted their warm-ups, observing closely.

At the time, critics accused him of trying to intimidate the opposing team, but he clarified the reasoning behind this behavior during an event in January last year.

“Actually, I did it to gain a better understanding of the other team,” Klopp explained. “They believed I was doing it to intimidate them.”

Chelsea’s exit from the Carabao Cup has been the sole setback in Rosenior’s first month at the helm, which has included three consecutive wins in the Premier League and direct advancement to the last 16 of the Champions League.

His most significant challenge thus far has been managing the intense media scrutiny surrounding Cole Palmer. The team’s most creative player has struggled with form this season, and reports surfaced in January indicating he was unsettled and preferred a return to his hometown of Manchester.

Additionally, there have been concerns regarding fitness. His playing time has been carefully monitored following a groin injury that sidelined him for several weeks before Christmas, and he has been unable to maintain a consistent run of matches.

Rosenior confirmed that both Palmer and Estêvão are prepared to play a full 90 minutes away at Wolves on Saturday, adding: “We have the very best medical team and the finest sports science team. We conduct numerous tests. We want to ensure these players can perform at the level required to help us secure victories.

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“Regarding Cole, there isn’t a specific timeline for when he will be at his best in a month or two; it’s a game-by-game situation.

“He has fully committed, and he has been exceptional. He is maturing as an individual and understands the broader perspective of his career.”

Forward Jamie Gittens sustained an injury during the 3-2 victory against West Ham last week and missed the loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

Coach Liam Rosenior did not provide a timeline for his recovery on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, it appears to be a more long-term issue for him,” Rosenior remarked. “He has a tear in his hamstring, which is unfortunate for him, and he will be a significant absence for us.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to work with him for long, but I am aware of his career and what an exceptional player he is, so it’s a considerable loss. It’s too early to determine how long he will be sidelined.”

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.