In the electric atmosphere of The Valley, one of English football's historic grounds, new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior cut a figure of composed authority during his debut in the dugout. His calm demeanour on the touchline offered a stark contrast to the more animated style of his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, as he oversaw a convincing 5-1 victory over Championship side Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round.
A New Era Begins with Assured Victory
While sterner tests await, not least a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday, this was an assured and stylish beginning to Rosenior's tenure. The 39-year-old, who has signed a five-and-a-half year contract at Stamford Bridge, demonstrated his courage by making eight changes from the side that lost at Fulham last week, placing faith in youth as he did at Strasbourg.
The match, Charlton's biggest FA Cup tie at The Valley since the 1970s, began with reminders of the ongoing discontent among the travelling support. Chelsea fans in the Jimmy Seed Stand repeatedly sang the name of former owner Roman Abramovich and directed chants of 'You're not wanted here' at current co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
Chelsea's Dominance and Charlton's Brief Hope
Despite enjoying over 80% possession in the first half, Chelsea initially struggled to break down a resilient Charlton defence. The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time, added for a medical emergency in the crowd, when Jorrel Hato fired a superb rising shot into the top corner.
Chelsea doubled their lead five minutes after the restart, with Tosin Adarabioyo glancing in a fine header from a Facundo Buonanotte free-kick. The tie seemed routine until Charlton's Miles Leaburn smashed in a rebound to make it 2-1, briefly transforming The Valley into a cauldron of noise.
Instant Response Secures the Win
Rosenior's young side showed character by responding perfectly. Within five minutes, Marc Guiu drilled home a third after goalkeeper Will Mannion saved from Buonanotte. Late substitutes then added gloss to the scoreline, with Pedro Neto firing in a fourth in added time before Enzo Fernandez converted a penalty with the game's last kick after Estevao Willian was fouled.
Key performers for Chelsea included the excellent Facundo Buonanotte and the sharp Jamie Gittens on the right flank. While this was a comfortable passage into the next round, Rosenior knows that winning over a sceptical fanbase, and navigating upcoming challenges like the Arsenal clash, will define the true start of his Chelsea project.
