Liam Rosenior: Chelsea uncertain about team huddle for PSG match
Liam Rosenior mentioned that Chelsea has not yet made a decision on whether they will perform their pre-match huddle around the ball prior to facing Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
This comes after chaotic scenes on Saturday when referee Paul Tierney found himself caught in the middle before kick-off, leading to Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United.
Rosenior reaffirmed his position that the ritual is not intended to intimidate or irritate, but he did not confirm if it would be repeated this week.
Chelsea will welcome the reigning champions for their round-of-16 second leg this week after suffering a 5-2 loss in the first leg.
“I believe it’s been exaggerated,” he stated. “It’s a minor issue among many significant matters we need to tackle, such as the crucial match against PSG.
“The players have always aimed to demonstrate unity and togetherness, and I think they will continue to do so. However, we do not wish to provoke or draw more attention to ourselves. We will decide where to perform that on the pitch tomorrow.”
The former Strasbourg manager indicated that he intends to meet in person this week with the PGMOL to discuss officiating, although not specifically the incident involving Tierney, with decisions that have adversely affected his team expected to be on the agenda.
“I think it’s a distraction for the media,” he remarked. “The huddle was something the players wanted to express unity. They are a strong group. We never intended to provoke anyone or create a stir.
“We have a significant match against PSG tomorrow. We have a chance to accomplish something truly remarkable. We understand the need to be flawless. I would prefer to concentrate on that.”
In other news, captain Reece James may face several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury during the match against Newcastle.
The 26-year-old recently signed a new six-year contract on Friday but will be unavailable for Rosenior, starting with Tuesday’s fixture.
Malo Gusto may also be absent due to illness as the Blues aim to achieve the unlikely task of overcoming the three-goal deficit to eliminate the European champions.
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“Reece felt something in his hamstring at the conclusion of the game against Newcastle,” Rosenior stated. “It’s really frustrating and disappointing for us. We are uncertain about the full extent of that injury, but he will miss tomorrow’s match.
“It could be [weeks] with a hamstring injury; it’s never ideal. Hopefully, we can get him scanned to determine the full extent, and then we will know more.
“We recognize how crucial he is as a leader in the group. He is our captain. Malo is ill today, so we will assess him for tomorrow.”
The injury to James represents a significant setback.
Securing the England defender until 2032 was celebrated as a major achievement by the club and occurred at a time when his fitness issues appeared to be largely resolved.
