Liam Rosenior hailed his “outstanding” Chelsea team after his tenure as head coach got off to a winning start at Charlton.
Goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu and substitutes Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez helped the Blues to a 5-1 win over Charlton at the Valley in Rosenior’s first match in charge.
Victory saw the Blues through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, a competition they last won in 2017-18.
Reflecting on his team’s performance after the match, Rosenior said: “I was very happy with the attitude of the team, even in the first-half. I felt our press was very intense and really good. I felt we controlled the game.
“These players are outstanding. They've been well coached before me. I was very happy with the togetherness and the spirit of the group today.”
Among Chelsea’s star performers on the night were squad players such as Guiu and Hato.
Praising his players, Rosenior added: “Guiu was top. His positioning, his pressing, he deserved his goal. He was always in the right position where we needed him to be tactically.
“I felt Jamie Gittens was very good. I felt Ale was so close to scoring a fantastic goal. He kept going one for one on the side.
“I believe in this group. I believe in all of them. And if we want to have a really strong season, we need to use them. I need to put faith into them, and they repaid my faith today. And they've given me real cause for optimism for the future.”
