Gary Neville blasted Chelsea’s ‘crazy’ owners and claimed Liam Rosenior had been ‘stitched up’ after the club sacked him as head coach after less than four months in charge.
Rosenior was dismissed by the Blues on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat at Brighton condemned them to a fifth straight Premier League defeat without scoring a goal.
The 41-year-old was appointed on a six-and-a-half year deal by Chelsea on January 6, following Enzo Maresca’s shock departure on New Year’s Day, but lasted just 106 days in the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
And Neville said the decision showed how Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, ‘haven’t got a clue what they’re doing’.
‘This policy at Chelsea, this plan, I don’t see it,’ Neville told Sky Sports. ‘These six and eight-year agreements that they give – it’s almost laughable from the start, whether it be for a manager or a player.
‘The owners haven’t got a clue what they are doing. I’ve made massive mistakes as an owner and sometimes you’ve got to accept you don’t know what you’re doing.
Liam Rosenior has been sacked as Chelsea head coach after less than four months in the role
‘They are all over the place. I just don’t get it. You deserve what you get in football and that’s every single ownership, and it’s a reflection upon them, not the coach.’
Neville also singled out Enzo Fernandez, who Rosenior banned for two matches after his comments about wanting to live in Madrid, and Marc Cucurella as players who had let down their head coach.
Fernandez in March criticised Chelsea’s hierarchy for their decision to sack Maresca, admitting the Italian’s departure ‘hurt’, while Cucurella also questioned the timing of the move and said the coach’s exit had a ‘big impact’ on the squad.
‘Cucurella and Fernandez [are] experienced players, probably the only two experienced players Chelsea have got, stitching him up in the last few weeks by calling out the fact they basically love Maresca,’ Neville said.
‘Well they weren’t doing that well under him. I think Maresca is a fine coach as well.’
Gary Neville criticised Chelsea for the decision and hit out at the club’s owners in a scathing verdict
BlueCo’s ownership of Chelsea has been widely criticised by the club’s fanbase
Rosenior joined the Blues from their sister club Strasbourg but took charge of only 23 matches before being axed.
Chelsea’s dismal run has left their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging by a thread.
The Blues slipped to seventh in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Brighton leapfrogging them in the table. They are seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
‘He [Rosenior] probably shouldn’t have been advanced into the role as quickly as he was,’ added Neville.
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‘He should have been left to develop his career, a promising young coach, someone who to be fair a lot have thought [highly] of.
‘You don’t turn down the Chelsea job. You don’t turn down a big job like that and I can see why it was appealing.
‘But the reality of it is he needs to get on with his coaching career now and put it behind him as quickly as he possibly can because like I say it is a club at this moment in time which is a little bit crazy on its decision making.’
Chelsea said in a statement: ‘Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior.
‘On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club.
‘Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-way through the season.
‘This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.
‘Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.
‘As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.’
