Soccer-Chelsea decision-making unacceptable, says Rosenior


Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - Chelsea ⁠manager Liam Rosenior questioned his team's decision-making after they conceded twice from Arsenal's favourite routine ⁠and had a player sent off in a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League on ‌Sunday.

Rosenior had enjoyed a generally positive start since replacing Enzo Maresca and this was his first defeat in seven league games but some recurring issues again undermined Chelsea's top-five push.

Both Arsenal's goals -- scored by William Saliba and Jurrien Timber -- came from the ​sort of corner routines that Chelsea would have been planning ⁠for all week.

On top of that they ⁠had Pedro Neto sent off after he received two yellow cards, one for dissent and one for ⁠a ‌foul, in three crazy minutes after Timber's 65th-minute goal.

In fact, Chelsea were arguably the better team, but Rosenior was left to rue the way they caused their own problems for the ⁠second successive week after Wesley Fofana was sent off in the ​1-1 draw with struggling Burnley last ‌week.

"I felt as a group, including me, we learned our lesson last week. To concede ⁠two goals from ​set plays, which ultimately has cost us the game, is really disappointing," Rosenior said.

"Then to have another red card, again, really disappointed. It's not just Pedro. I think as a group, me as the leader as well, we ⁠have to take more accountability for some of the decision-making ​we're having in terms of our discipline and in terms of the goals we concede.

"Some of them are just not acceptable at this level."

Chelsea equalised through a Piero Hincapie own goal and even with 10 men ⁠they came close to earning a point at the league leaders.

But defeat leaves them in sixth place and needing victories to get their top-five hopes back on track.

Chelsea have now had seven players red-carded in the league this season and Rosenior admits discipline is a problem.

"We need to do something, for sure. ​I need to speak to the coaching staff, the staff around the ⁠club, the players, because it's not acceptable," he said. "Especially the last two games, we've caused our own issues, ​even here against a very good team.

"You can see there's a ‌lot of good in our play. There's a lot ​of good technically, tactically, the quality of our play. But if we don't eradicate this, it's going to be the thing that costs us."

(Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Toby Davis)

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