Liam Rosenior has insisted that he ‘loves’ Strasbourg when asked about rumours linking him to the Chelsea job – but insiders are said to believe he will leave the club ‘like a thief’.
The former Hull City boss, 41, is the leading contender to succeed Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge following the Italian’s explosive New Year’s Day departure.
But when grilled about the links on Friday, Rosenior told reporters: ‘There’s a lot of noise, a lot of speculation, but as a coach, if you get involved, you fail. My job is here, I love this club.’
However, French outlet L’Equipe claim to have spoken with sources close to the Ligue 1 side’s dressing room, who expect him to depart for west London and leave the team in chaos.
The 41-year-old was continually pressed about the Chelsea links in his eagerly anticipated press conference and, though he admitted being teased about the potential move, said he does not know ‘what tomorrow will bring’.
He also confirmed that he has had contact with Chelsea but implied that the ‘exchanges’ are because they are ‘part of the same group’ in a nod to BlueCo, who own both the Premier League and Ligue 1 sides.
Liam Rosenior insisted that he ‘loves’ Strasbourg when speaking on links to the Chelsea job
Rosenior has been accused of ‘leaving like a thief’ by sources reported in the French media
‘In life, there are zero guarantees,’ Rosenior continued. ‘You never know what tomorrow will bring. I’m just doing my job. There’s already been speculation. I don’t want to guarantee how long I’ll be here, but I enjoy myself here every day.
‘I intend to continue doing so as long as I’m here. I love this club, but I can’t guarantee anything. Nobody can.’
The saga is reportedly causing unrest within the dressing room, with a source telling L’Equipe: ‘Rosenior would really leave like a thief. It’s incomprehensible. The team will implode; I see no other way out.’
Daily Mail Sport understands Rosenior is leading the race to take the Chelsea hot-seat. But the Strasbourg boss took training and addressed the media as normal ahead of his side’s league clash against OGC Nice.
Asked again why he hadn’t ruled out leaving the Alsace-based club by the media, Rosenior said: ‘I’m honest, you can never control everything in life. I could say I’m going to stay here for years and then get fired.’
BlueCo are admirers of Rosenior due to his work with the Ligue 1 sister club. However, bringing him to Stamford Bridge would leave them needing to make another managerial…