Liam Rosenior names Chelsea star who can do 'anything he wants' and 'huge influences' on his coaching approach ahead of Man Utd clash

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In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior reveals his managerial inspirations and reserves special praise for one of the Blues' brightest stars.

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As he continues his journey in football management, Chelsea boss Rosenior is looking to the greats and those he believes have made a "real impact" on the sport as his influences.

Rosenoir joined the west Londoners in January, replacing Enzo Maresca, having previously had spells in charge at Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and Hull City in the Championship.

His next assignment will see him lead out his side against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, in a high-stakes Premier League clash in the hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification.

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Previously stating that he had an eye for tactics as young as 11, Rosenior says his coaching approach has been shaped along every step of his journey.

”I think I just enjoyed watching football,” he says of his youthful enthusiasm for potential coaching and management roles.

”I loved the game, I loved watching different teams, different styles. Even as a player, it was the same.

”Every manager that you've worked with, you take good and bad with how they deal with the squad, the training sessions, the tactical work that they do.

”At the same time, from afar, you look at other coaches that you really appreciate the work that they do.

”You just take things and you add them to your own way of working and your own way of playing football.

”I think there's been huge influences in football. Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola.”

Beyond the Premier League legends, Rosenior casts his mind further back to a name from the continent for inspiration.

”Arrigo Sacchi changed football with his AC Milan team [that won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990].

”I think the coaches that I really appreciate are the ones who have made a real impact on the game.”

In terms of impact on the pitch, one of Chelsea’s leading lights has been backed by his manager to go all the way to the top of the game following a breakthrough season in the Premier League.

Rosenior says Brazilian winger Estevao can do "anything he wants" in the game given his quality as a player.

The 18-year-old, who joined last summer from Palmeiras for £29 million, has eight goals and three assists across all competitions for Chelsea so far.

Having recently returned from injury, Estevao will hope to add to his numbers in the remaining games this season, starting with the United clash.

Asked what Estevao’s strengths are, Rosenoir said: "Just his fearlessness.

”His technicality, his ability to go 1v1 or 2v1 again sometimes. He's an outstanding player. He's worked so hard, he wants to learn.”

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After impressing in his early displays, Estevao announced himself with a dramatic winning goal against Liverpool to win the hearts of the Stamford Bridge faithful.

He also scored in the UEFA Champions League league phase win over Barcelona and has been integral to his side’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Rosenior also highlighted the player’s off-field personality and how that helps his on-pitch development.

”He's very humble, he wants to improve," he added.

”He's always got a smile on his face, which I love, because he genuinely enjoys playing football, and he's got a great family as well that have brought him up in an amazing way.

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”So when you have that grounding, you can go on to do anything you want in your career.

”He can be as good as he wants to be, anything that he wants to do.”

Asked about the heights the player could ultimately reach, including a potential Ballon d’Or tilt, Rosenior moved to calm those specific expectations.

”I don't like to speak about individual accolades. I just want him to focus on the now and keep improving.

”But like I said, with his temperament and with his ability, he can do anything he wants with a bit of luck and some hard work.”

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Estavao is one of a number of players targeted by Chelsea in recent years who have brought down the average age of the squad to the youngest in the division.

The Brazilian could be part of a bright future for the club, but Rosenior says he is focused on the present, as he looks to drag his side out of a recent disappointing run of results.

"We always want everybody connected with the club to be excited for the future," he said.

"But to give them that excitement, you need to give good results and good performances in this moment, and that's what we're focused on now.

"The future will come in time, but what we need to do is focus on our performances and results now to give that excitement for the future."

Chelsea are in sixth place in the Premier League table, four points off a potential fifth-place Champions League qualification spot and seven points behind Man Utd in third.

The Blues have won just one of their last seven league games, losing four of their last five, with Rosenior hoping to turn the club’s fortunes around with just six matches to play this season.

”You hope so,” said Rosenoir when asked if a win could kickstart a better run of results. ”But you can't look too far ahead.

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”You focus on each game, and the next game for us is Manchester United at home.

”If we make a really good performance and get a result there, then we look at [the next league fixture] Brighton and we move forward from there.”

Chelsea fans are set to protest ahead of the game expressing dissatisfaction with the direction of club under the current ownership, however, Rosenior is hoping for full-throated support once supporters are inside Stamford Bridge.

”We have to earn that with our performance on the pitch,” he said. ”You need to give your fans something to cheer, you need to give them something to go after, and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.”

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