Former Inter defender suggests Blues should replace manager despite six-and-a-half-year contract signed in January
Marco Materazzi has urged Chelsea to sack Liam Rosenior and appoint Cesc Fabregas this summer, adding another chapter to the club's managerial chaos that has seen them potentially heading for their third boss in 15 months.
The former Inter Milan defender made the extraordinary suggestion after watching Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Everton, despite Rosenior only taking charge in January on a six-and-a-half-year contract.
Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca just three months ago after the Italian's departure, continuing a pattern of instability that has plagued Stamford Bridge since Todd Boehly's takeover in 2022.
The 41-year-old started brilliantly, winning his first four matches in charge. But a run of one victory in six games has apparently been enough for some to call for his head.
Chelsea's recent form under Rosenior:
Materazzi, who watched the Everton defeat from the stands, didn't hold back in his assessment.
I was at Everton against Chelsea, I was at the FIFA Club World Cup final. Under Enzo Maresca, they were a totally different team and what I saw in Liverpool was an easy game for Everton. Chelsea did not impress me and I think they have to change.
The suggestion becomes even more absurd when considering Rosenior's contract situation. Chelsea handed him a six-and-a-half-year deal in January, one of the longest managerial contracts in Premier League history.
Sacking him now would likely cost the club millions in compensation, adding to the financial burden of their previous managerial departures.
Materazzi's preferred replacement is Cesc Fabregas, currently managing Como in Serie A. The 38-year-old has impressed in his first senior managerial role, but his inexperience makes him a questionable choice for a club in crisis.
The former Chelsea midfielder took charge of Como in November 2023, helping them achieve promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years. They currently sit in a Champions League position after 31 games.
But managing in Serie A with billionaire backing is vastly different from handling the pressure cooker at Stamford Bridge. Fabregas has:
Fabregas is not just Como's manager but also a part-owner, which complicates any potential move. He's building something at the Italian club with significant financial backing from billionaire owners Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono.
Materazzi himself acknowledges the difficulty of prising him away.
I don't know if he will move because he wants to take Como to the Champions League but I can see Chelsea in the future for Fabregas. Why not?
Chelsea's issues run far deeper than who occupies the dugout. Since Todd Boehly's takeover in 2022, the club has spent over £1 billion on players while cycling through managers at an alarming rate.
The constant managerial changes have created a toxic environment where:
Materazzi's suggestion that Chelsea need to change managers after just three months exemplifies the short-term thinking that has plagued the club.
The Italian claimed Chelsea's young squad needs different management, but this ignores the fact that Rosenior was specifically brought in to develop younger players after his work at Strasbourg.
They are a young team and I don't know if they have the best manager for what Chelsea need right now. They have to try to get Cesc Fabregas this summer.
Constantly changing managers doesn't help young players develop. It creates confusion and stunts their growth.
Despite Materazzi's comments, Chelsea are unlikely to sack Rosenior anytime soon. The financial implications of terminating another long-term contract would be catastrophic, even for a club backed by Boehly's billions.
The real test will come at the season's end. If Chelsea miss out on Champions League qualification, pressure will mount on Rosenior. But giving him time to implement his ideas might be exactly what this chaotic club needs, rather than reaching for another quick fix in Fabregas or anyone else.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
Materazzi believes Chelsea should sack Rosenior after watching their 3-0 defeat to Everton and poor recent form of one win in six games. He thinks the team needs change despite Rosenior's strong start.
Rosenior signed a six-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea in January 2024. Sacking him after just three months would likely cost the club millions in compensation.
Fabregas currently manages Como in Serie A, helping them achieve promotion for the first time in 21 years. However, he has less than three years of senior managerial experience and no Premier League management background.
Chelsea is potentially heading for their third manager in 15 months. Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca in January 2024, continuing the club's pattern of managerial instability since Todd Boehly's takeover.
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