Chelsea began the Liam Rosenior era with a comfortable 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup, but discontent among supporters again dominated the narrative. Despite a controlled and clinical display from a rotated Chelsea side, chants against the club’s owners were heard throughout the match, reflecting ongoing frustration with the project led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Rosenior, the club’s fifth head coach since 2022, oversaw a performance that followed familiar patterns from his predecessor Enzo Maresca, prioritising possession while resting key players such as Cole Palmer and Reece James ahead of a Carabao Cup semi-final.
Chelsea took the lead through Jorrel Hato just before half-time and extended their advantage when Tosin Adarabioyo headed in early in the second half. A lapse in concentration allowed Miles Leaburn to pull one back for Charlton, but Chelsea responded well, with goals from Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and a late penalty converted by Enzo Fernández after an impressive cameo from teenage winger Estevão Willian. While the result marked a winning start for Rosenior, the hostility towards the ownership showed no signs of easing, underlining the fragile mood surrounding the club.
