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CHELSEA DAGGER (REPRISE)

So. Farewell then, Liam Rosenior. After 106 days and a run of five consecutive league defeats without scoring a goal, Chelsea suits reactivated the revolving door marked Do One at Stamford Bridge and bundled him into oblivion. Rosenior lasted for 3.6% of his contract, which runs until 2032, by which time Chelsea’s coaching staff genuinely might be an army of analytical AI models in tracksuits. Rosenior’s reign began, if not with huge promise then at least a certain intrigue. Recruited from within the BlueCo matrix, the 41-year-old was flown to London for talks. An unassuming figure in spectacles and scarf, Rosenior resembled the “tech guy” in a boilerplate heist movie. Then he started talking. “The potential for this club, and for this group is limitless. And I won’t limit it,” Rosenior mused after watching a 2-1 defeat at Fulham, before adding he hoped his appointment would go down as “the best decision this club’s ever made”. Oof, this one actually aged faster than milk.

Things quickly got even stranger. There was that “respect the ball” performance art huddle with Paul Tierney, and then a tactical note passed on to the pitch when Chelsea were 8-2 down on aggregate against PSG. Social media disgraces sharpened their focus on “LinkedIn Liam”, with choice pearls dug up from his Strasbourg tenure, like: “In English, the word manage … if you split the two words, it’s man age – you’re ageing men.” Yes, this soundbite alone would be enough for the Daily to walk out on an office awayday. And yes, Rosenior was deeply naive to think this high-performance approach would attract anything other than ridicule. But to begin with, results on the pitch showed promise. When Chelsea swept through Villa in early-March, they moved to 48 points, three off the top four. But six weeks later, Rosenior’s side are still on 48 points.

The cracks really began to show during April’s international break, when Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella began loudly asking themselves rhetorical questions about Spanish nightlife. Rosenior responded by dropping Fernández for two games, but he was back as captain for Tuesday’s painful 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a club Chelsea have mercilessly mined for resources. As a final touch of tragicomedy, Rosenior’s starting XI was leaked by Cucurella’s barber. The same players who reportedly nicknamed Rosenior “the supply teacher” now want a stronger character in charge, who can keep big egos in check. Give Diego Simeone five minutes in that dressing room, is our advice. For now, Calum McFarlane is thrust back into the hot seat to try and reach an FA Cup final, an opportunity Rosenior will not be afforded.

At this point, it’s worth shifting our focus to the broader picture. Rosenior’s short tenure feeds into some unsettling trends, with Premier League managers more expendable than ever. His departure means there are now three English managers in the top flight: Michael Carrick (interim at present), Eddie Howe (on the brink) and Scott Parker (relegated). It also means there is just one Black manager in the Premier League (Nuno Espírito Santo), and just two more among the 72 EFL clubs. Back in January, Kick it Out’s Samuel Okafor told Big Website he hoped Chelsea’s bold appointment would help break down barriers. Now, we can’t help but wonder if Rosenior will even get another chance at the highest level. Having previously impressed at Hull and Strasbourg, his burgeoning career shouldn’t be defined by three months at a dysfunctional megaclub. Still, at least he probably knows his way around LinkedIn.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’m so sorry. I’m pretty sure he’s a manager for that level” – Pep Guardiola reflects on Rosenior’s exit, after Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Burnley – a result that took City top of the Premier League for the first time since the opening week and relegated the Clarets – although Football Daily is not sure if Pep is trying to defend the now departed boss or throw shade on the Blues.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

I started supporting Chelsea in 1970 because everyone else was supporting Leeds United and Leeds was a long way away. I enjoyed the Osgood, Hutchinson and Hudson years, endured the 1980s, got hopeful in the 1990s and smugly bathed in Russian money thereafter. In the meantime, I moved to Leeds, raised two Leeds fans and felt sorry as they grew more reliant to the minor horrors football support can inflict. Today, I nearly hope Leeds destroy Chelsea on Sunday. I am considering a transfer request, which is absurd so late in this narrative arc. Thanks Todd, you are the second worst American on the planet” – Jon Fogden.

So, Marc Cucurella’s barber leaked Chelsea’s lineup for their game against Brighton in a deleted social media disgrace post? Marc Cucurella has a barber?” – Leslie Hand.

I note with interest that in your piece on Leicester’s plummet to the third tier (yesterday’s Football Daily), you suggest they might have a trip to play the not-so-mighty Grecians next season. As any Exeter City supporter will tell you, not to mention having a quick glance at the table, that particular fixture is highly unlikely, given that we are two points adrift in the relegation zone. It seems Football Daily has more faith in us escaping the drop than we do. I’ll have a tin of what you’re drinking” – Jim Hughes (and others).

I have good and bad news for Leicester fans: the good news is you’re only two years from returning to the Promised Land. The bad is you’re only two years from non-league” – JJ Zucal.

In 2023-24, Luton finished 18th in the Premier League and were relegated from the Championship the next season. In 2024-25, Leicester finished 18th in the Premier League and were relegated from the Championship the next season. In 2025-26, remind me who’s 18th in the Premier League?” – Jim Hearson.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Leslie Hand. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

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Turn the latest Football Weekly Extra podcast up to 11.

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS

It’s a good one, the latest extract from our sister newsletter, as Tom Garry catches up with former England netball coach Tracey Neville, who tells him about her next big step: creating “a future in sport” at Stockport County.

BAH GAWD, THAT’S ITALY’S MUSIC!?

The Geopolitics World Cup continues to unite, with a suit from Donald Trump’s administration admitting that he’s asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy. In a country where promotion and relegation do not exist and meritocracy is seemingly on the wane, US special envoy Paolo Zampolli spoke to the Financial Times. “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the [GWC],” parped Zampolli. “I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted [US co-hosted – Football Daily Ed] tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.” While that seems like a questionable criteria – akin to arguing that Nigeria should be invited on the basis that JD Vance wants to do keepy-uppies with Jay-Jay Okacha – it’s important to remember that there is (sort of) precedent for these sort of shenanigans, what with Fifa basically shoe-horning Inter Miami – and Lionel Messi – into last year’s Club World Cup. However, Zampolli’s creative idea looks likely to fail: Italian sports minister, Andrea Abodi, described the proposal as “not appropriate”, adding: “Qualification is on the pitch.”

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Tributes have been paid to Tony Parkes, “Mr Blackburn Rovers”, after his death at the age of 76. Parkes joined the club as a player in 1970, making more than 400 appearances for them before becoming a coach, including six spells as caretaker manager. Six! RIP Tony.

One of the UK’s leading police officers in prosecuting online harms has said the ability to secure identifying information from Social Media Abomination X has become “significantly worse” over the past 12 months.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is very angry, disappointed and frustrated after Sean Longstaff’s disputed goal deep in added time secured a vital 2-2 draw for Leeds and dented the Cherries’ European ambitions. “I’m very angry, I’m disappointed, I’m frustrated,” fumed Iraola.

Ipswich are back in the Championship’s automatic promotion places – just – after getting the better of Charlton 2-1 at the Valley.

And Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of Barcelona’s season with hamstring-twang but is expected to be fit for Spain at the GWC. “The player will follow a conservative treatment plan,” sobbed Barça in a statement.

STILL WANT MORE?

P-A-R-T-Y? Because Real Sociedad gotta. Sid Lowe explains why even a Getafe-infused hangover from hell can’t dim their joy.

“Welcome to BlueCo Chelsea, a place where blaming the manager for the on-field spectacle feels a bit like complaining that the scientists inside the Chernobyl nuclear plant still haven’t washed up the canteen coffee cups.” Barney Ronay on the end for Liam Rosenior, plus Jacob Steinberg’s verdict on the ongoing churn that left their coach out of his depth in the deep end.

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki continues to offer a welcome point of difference in this Premier League season, coos Will Unwin.

After bonfires, bulbs and a dog called Win, will Mikel Arteta get Arsenal going again, wonders Ed Aarons.

Spanish manager Eva Olid is hoping to deliver quite the leaving present for Hearts Women in their pursuit of an historic Scottish Premier League title. She gets her chat on with Suzanne Wrack.

And Simon Burnton covers all the dramatic English non-league storylines fit to print going into the final games of the season.

MEMORY LANE

To Plainmoor in 2006, where manager Leroy Rosenior is pointing at his watch during Torquay United’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Birmingham City. The game ended goalless, with Blues winning the replay 2-0. For Rosenior, it was a more successful stint than his second down in Devon a year later, which famously ended after just 10 minutes. A straw for son Liam to clutch in the aftermath of departing Stamford Bridge: per the Times’ football stats guru Bill Edgar, his Chelsea spell lasted 15,264 times longer.

‘YOU’RE A SPACE CADET DRESSED IN FIBREGLASS’