Liam Rosenior has accused Arsenal of disrespecting Chelsea by disrupting their warm-up before the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Television cameras caught Chelsea’s head coach losing his cool and aiming a foul-mouthed outburst at an unidentified member of Arsenal staff for straying into the wrong half of the pitch before the sides met at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Rosenior, who was seen telling someone to stay in their half, looked livid at the time and said on Thursday that there were “certain etiquettes in football” to observe, after being asked why the incident angered him so much.
“It wasn’t the [Arsenal] players,” the 41-year-old said. “I’m respectful. When you warm up, you have your half, the other team have their half. I’ve never asked my team or my coaches to encroach on the opposition’s territory. In that moment, I didn’t think it was right where they were operating.
“They were affecting my lads’ warm-up and my staff’s warm-up. So I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stay in their half. I’m not here to have mind games. It’s just what I think is right and respectful. Hopefully, we respect that and other teams do too.
“There are certain etiquettes in football. I always try to be as respectful as possible. I always want to win. I’ve never asked my coaches. I don’t have an issue with anyone at Arsenal Football Club. A fantastic manager, Mikel Arteta, I’ve got so much respect for. It was just in that moment, I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.”
Arsenal reached the final after a late Kai Havertz goal sealed a 4-2 win on aggregate. Chelsea were criticised for their cautious approach but were without a host of key players.
Rosenior said that Cole Palmer, who came on in the second half against Arsenal, is ready to play 90 minutes when Chelsea visit Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. It is unclear whether Pedro Neto and Reece James will return from minor knocks. Jamie Gittens is sidelined with a torn hamstring.
