Chelsea Players Didn’t Show Courage Against Brighton – Rosenior

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has said that his team’s performance in their defeat by Brighton was unacceptable. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, even though he has always come out to defend his players after defeats, he cannot defend the terrible performance the boys served up against Brighton.

Stressing that there is clearly a lack of spirit and belief in the squad, Rosenior added that the boys deserve to be criticized for failing to show courage.

His words, “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude.

I keep coming out and defending the players – that’s indefensible, that performance tonight.

The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

I think the players need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. You can talk about tactics… tactics come after the basics.

Having more courage to play, winning duels, winning headers, tackles, conceding terrible goals. That was an unacceptable performance tonight.

I don’t feel there’s a disconnect between me and the players.

We work very closely with them in training, in individual meetings and team meetings. We are giving everything to the players.

There is a lack of spirit and a lack of belief, which can create that perception. I can’t argue with that at the moment because the run we’re on is unacceptable and that performance definitely was as well.

It’s very soon after the game and I’m an emotional person, but that was unacceptable – unacceptable. We lost 80% of duels and didn’t win a single header.

Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight.

It is accountability. I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing, but I can’t defend that performance. It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.

I feel numb I’m so angry. Something needs to change drastically right now. The professionalism wasn’t there.

We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. The general attitude, spirit, determination was lacking a part from maybe three or four of the 11. That is nowhere near enough for this club.

Whether you’re playing at this elite football club or any football club, to even be accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting.

We need to make the right decisions for the team ahead of a massive game on Sunday and we’ll do everything we can to turn it around.”

WOW.