Steven Gerrard has launched a ferocious criticism of Chelsea's owners, claiming they can 'never be trusted' again after sacking Liam Rosenior earlier this week. The Blues faced Leeds United at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday with Calum McFarlane as interim manager following Rosenior's dismissal on Wednesday.
An official club statement said: 'This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.'
However, both Joe Cole and Gerrard took issue with the handling of the situation during TNT Sports' FA Cup coverage. Cole said: 'The way the whole thing was handled - he was given the vote of confidence then three days later he's gone - we don't know whether Liam Rosenior is a top manager or not. Because he wasn't given the opportunity.'
This was in reference to a quote from Behdad Eghbali before Rosenior's dismissal: 'We've had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we're behind Liam. Of course, it's a results business but we think he can be successful long term.'
Cole added: 'That's the thing that frustrates Chelsea fans, because you get so much PR around big clubs, 'this is what we are, this is what we are, long-term plan' and we've sacked five managers. 'We back the manager' and sack him in three days' time. Fans are not stupid.'
Gerrard then offered his perspective: 'You'd never trust them again. Anything they say moving forward now, from a Chelsea point of view, ex-players, blah blah blah - you go, 'are you gonna believe that?' They're saying stuff like that and sacking the manager six days later.'
The Liverpool icon also questioned whether first-team stars have been showing sufficient desire: 'Let's not put too much emphasis on owners and managers losing their job - Chelsea have got so many good players. But where's the identity, where's the fight, where's the spirit?'
Gerrard continued: 'When I played against these guys, they had top world class talent. So's that group of players. But they had a winning mentality. They had the fight, had the spirit, right to the end. None of them players hid behind a manager or an ownership. In today's world, we get involved in social media: 'the owner's said blah blah blah', giving a six-year contract. You're a footballer, forget all that. Go and play for your team and your badge and your supporters.'
He concluded: 'These players are not doing it enough. They've lost seven games out of the last eight, they've only won against Port Vale. That's not Chelsea. The Chelsea team that I played against had an identity, a fight, a spirit, a style. It's gone of late. If you want to blame Liam Rosenior for that, fine. But not for me.'
