Strasbourg coach: I often contact Chelsea executives and want to become a "victory coach"

Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenier was interviewed and talked about his connection with Chelsea and the team system.

How did you get this job? You and Chelsea executives seem to have a close relationship

Strasbourg is the team that France invested the most in the summer window, spending 127 million euros. The BlueCo consortium, which acquired the club in 2023, is also spending 160 million euros on stadium renovations. The training facilities are still relatively basic at the moment, but the club has added a new gym and a small court over the past year and plans to build a new integrated training base.

I have "regular, daily contacts" with Sam Jewell (Chelsea Global Signing Director) and Paul Winstanley (Chelsea Co-Sports Director), Joe Shields (Chelsea Director and Talent Director) and Lawrence Stewart (Chelsea Director).

They invested a huge interest in this team. I don't think those fans who oppose BlueCo understand these investments, not just money, but time. Our recruitment team in London has traveled all over Europe, Africa and South America for Strasbourg.

I was discovered by them to take on this role (Strasbourg and Chelsea belong to the BlueCo consortium). When I joined Brighton as a player and got into coaching for the first time, Winstanley was working there, and I had intersects with Jewell at that club, too.

My relationship with Stewart can be traced back to the days when I played football in Hull City more than a decade ago. I used to sit with Lawrence in a small analyst office on the training ground and chat about football for hours after training. We will watch video clips together and analyze our views on the game together. I was not surprised to see his current career development.

About tactics

We change the system in every game, especially when there is no ball. I have used five guards, three guards, and four guards, and have also used 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. This is also very good for the player's development. But you must have a set of principles in the way of playing. My emphasis on pitching from the backcourt does not mean that I am not a defensive coach, nor does it mean that I am a ball-control coach. I want to be a victory coach.

What do you think about the future, such as returning to England to coach?

Many English clubs want a "victory coach", but he is currently very happy in France. My mind is only in the present. If you do your job very well in the moment, everything in the future will naturally come. When I came to Strasbourg, I didn't think, 'I'll do my best here and go back to the Premier League'. I never plan my career and have no idea about the next step. I just want to do my best here.