Newly appointed Chelsea manager, Liam Rosenior, will face an immediate test of his credentials when the Blues travel to second-tier Charlton Athletic for the FA Cup third round, a fixture laced with potential upset.
The tie marks Rosenior’s first match in charge of Chelsea, less than two years after his dismissal by Hull City following a 1–0 defeat at Plymouth that ended their Championship play-off hopes in May 2024. At the time, few would have predicted that the 41-year-old would soon be handed one of English football’s most scrutinised jobs.
Rosenior rebuilt his reputation in France, guiding Strasbourg — another club owned by Chelsea proprietors BlueCo — to a credible seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. Despite that progress, his appointment as successor to Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge still raised eyebrows.
Now under intense scrutiny, Rosenior knows he must start strongly. Any slip against Charlton, who are struggling in 19th place in the Championship, would represent a disastrous beginning to his reign.
“For this opportunity to come at this stage of my career is special, but my focus is not just on being Chelsea manager — it’s about being a winning Chelsea manager,” Rosenior said. “We need to hit the ground running.”
The occasion is made more personal by the venue, with Rosenior’s father, Leroy, having played for Charlton during the 1990s.
Frank under mounting pressure at Spurs
Elsewhere, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank heads into the FA Cup weekend fighting to ease growing pressure over his future. Appointed after the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, the former Brentford boss has struggled to meet expectations at north London.
Frank’s more conservative, defence-first approach — successful at Brentford — has failed to win over Spurs supporters accustomed to attacking football. With just three wins in their last 13 matches, patience is wearing thin.
A home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday could further intensify calls for his dismissal.
Fletcher seeks to steady Manchester United
At Manchester United, caretaker manager Darren Fletcher will look to stabilise a club in turmoil when the Red Devils host Brighton. Fletcher was handed interim control following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim earlier this week.
United are expected to appoint a temporary manager until May, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick reportedly among those considered. Fletcher’s chances of extending his stay were not boosted by a 2–2 draw at Burnley on Wednesday, despite signs of attacking improvement.
United’s poor home form — just one win in their last five matches at Old Trafford — contributed to Amorim’s exit. Fletcher must now halt the slide against Brighton, who had won on their previous three visits to Old Trafford before losing 4–2 there in October.
As the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend, Rosenior, Frank and Fletcher all face defining moments that could shape the trajectory of their seasons — and possibly their careers.
Elijah Adeyemi
