Liam Rosenior got off to a winning start with Chelsea in the Premier League, but his team were labelled ‘poor’ in their 2-0 victory over Brentford.
Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer scored the goals in the win over the in-form Bees, which saw the Blues climb to sixth in the table.
Estevao was a notable absentee from the squad for the London derby, with Rosenior explaining before the game that the Brazilian was ill.
The Blues boss said that there was illness throughout the club and some players had played despite suffering, which he said partly led to a sluggish performance.
‘There were a few, I won’t say who, but there were a couple of players playing today who were complaining about their chests,’ said Rosenior.
‘They put in a magnificent effort. I felt that’s why we weren’t good with the ball. I won’t give you names, it’s not right for me to do that, but I’m so happy with the attitude of the group to get through this game.’
Brentford finished the game with 54.2 per cent possession and 15 shots to Chelsea’s six, with the Blues scoring from both their shots on target.
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Rosenior added: ‘We didn’t play the free-flowing football that I want us to in the end, but we got the job done and that’s a really, really pleasing result for the players to give them and myself more confidence moving forward.’
‘I thought they were poor’
Wayne Rooney knows Rosenior well as they worked together at Derby County and the Manchester United legend felt Chelsea were poor against Brentford.
Rooney feels Rosenior will get his team to improve, but there is a lot of information behind the type of football he wants to play and it will take time for the players to understand it.
‘I thought they were poor today. I thought Brentford were really good and really unlucky to not get anything out of the game,’ the former England striker said on Match of the Day.
‘I know Liam really well and know that he will be giving the players a lot of information. Notes going onto the pitch during the game.
‘The players will have a lot to learn, to learn his system, to learn how he wants to play. There is a lot of rotation in that.
‘I think it was a flat performance and Liam did say before the game there was illness going around the club. I think that showed in the performance, but the important thing, as Liam said, was that they got the win and got over the line.
‘If Liam gets it right it will be really effective. Them players will be getting a lot of information given to them, it is new, it will take time. But if Liam can get that message into the players as quickly as possible they will be a dangerous team.’
‘What pleased me the most…’
On the underwhelming win, Rosenior said: ‘By hook or by crook, I felt that attitude, the energy levels, value in the basics of football.
‘When you play a good team like Brentford, who can play in many different ways, who are very, very good on set plays, long throws, they’re so organised, Keith [Andrews] has done a great job.
‘What pleased me the most, which is summed up in the two goals, the players’ willingness to battle, to fight, to block shots, to make headers and tackles. That’s the reason we got the clean sheet and actually it was that attitude that got us the two goals that win us the game.’
Rosenior next leads Chelsea in the Champions League against Pafos on Wednesday, meaning he has the unique situation of his first four games in charge coming in four different competitions.
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