Chelsea have sacked manager Liam Rosenior after five straight defeats with Cesc Fabregas emerging as a potential successor
Chelsea have sacked boss Liam Rosenior after five defeats in a row without scoring. Ex-Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas, currently in charge of Italian side Como 1907, has been speculatively linked with replacing him.
Rosenior took the reins at Stamford Bridge in January and while there were encouraging signs early on, he has now been let go. A 3-0 loss to Brighton on Tuesday, during which his side failed to register a single shot on target, was his final game in charge.
A number of names have been touted as potential successors. Fabregas is among those, having made a strong impression in Italy, with his side pursuing Champions League qualification having only earned promotion to Serie A in 2024.
The Spaniard spent almost five seasons at Chelsea following stints with Arsenal and Barcelona, securing two Premier League titles and an FA Cup in west London. football.london examines how the Como manager could set up his team should he succeed Rosenior and considers any potential new signings.
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Fabregas officially assumed the Como manager’s role in 2024 after obtaining his UEFA Pro License and has thrived since. Prior to this, following his 2023 retirement, he served at the club as Under-19s manager.
The system Fabregas employs in Italy is remarkably fluid. On paper, it takes the shape of a 4-2-3-1, featuring a lone striker, a back four and a single pivot within a box midfield. Yet once the action gets underway, things shift considerably.
In possession, his side floods the central areas of the pitch, with the two wide players tucking infield to operate as more centralised No. 10s while the full-backs push forward.
A conventional 4-2-2-2 is deployed in attack, with this structure proving effective at breaking lines on the counter. When in possession, his side typically transitions into a 4-1-4-1, with the full-backs narrowing and the wingers dropping deeper.
Fabregas also organises his team differently during the build-up phase and is not averse to switching things around. In the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Inter on Tuesday, he set his side up in a back five to neutralise their opponents’ wing-backs.
Should the 38-year-old be handed the Chelsea role, he would, in all likelihood, line his side up in his preferred 4-2-3-1 and he would certainly have the personnel to do so. The former manager frequently adopted a comparable shape.
Robert Sanchez would likely retain his place between the sticks, while the ideal full-backs for a back four are already present at the club: Reece James on the right and Marc Cucurella on the left.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, setting aside the Argentine’s uncertain future, would also hand Fabregas a box midfield that suits his approach perfectly.
Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro would undoubtedly feature prominently in his prospective attack, with the Brazilian operating as a second striker, though there are several positions the Spaniard may look to strengthen should he return to west London.
Nico Paz is the creative driving force behind Fabregas’ Como side, and were the manager to depart, one would expect him to be eager to bring the youngster along with him.
Tasos Douvikas currently leads the line at Como, and Fabregas favours strikers who possess a relentless work rate, press aggressively and hold their own in physical duels. While Liam Delap fits this profile, he has struggled to convince at Chelsea, and there is a forward who embodies exactly that blueprint who is currently making waves in the Premier League.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago has plundered 21 top-flight goals this season and has been a constant thorn in the side of defenders. Though he would likely command a hefty fee, the Brazilian would flourish under Fabregas’ tutelage.
At centre-back, Chelsea’s shortcomings are plain to see, yet Trevoh Chalobah showed flashes during Rosenior’s early stint in charge that he is capable of performing at the top level. Alessandro Bastoni has been linked with a departure from Inter, and he could slot in alongside Chalobah on the left to complete Fabregas’ ideal starting XI.
Chelsea XI under Fabregas (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Bastoni, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Paz, Palmer, Joao Pedro; Thiago.
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