ESTEVAO BECOMES THE YOUNGEST CHELSEA PLAYER SINCE 1993 TO SCORE AND ASSIST
Estevao shines with a goal and assist in Chelsea's 3-1 win at Selhurst Park, extending Palace's winless run to 11 matches.
Liam Rosenior couldn’t have asked for a much better day at the office. His Chelsea side handled Crystal Palace, even after Palace went down to ten men, and left with a 3-1 win, Rosenior’s first Premier League victory on the road as their new boss.
He’s made quite the start, too. Four wins out of five in all competitions, and he’s the first manager since Graham Potter to snag six points from his opening two league matches.
Estevao got the ball rolling in the 34th minute, then set up Joao Pedro for another after the break. Enzo Fernandez coolly slotted home a penalty, but Rosenior had to settle for almost perfect when Chris Richards headed in a late goal for Palace.
“Today was a big test,” Rosenior said. “I changed things up tactically, and the way the team performed really pleased me. Most of our pressing and positioning was spot on—pretty close to perfect, honestly.
“They’re buying into what we’re doing. It’s just one game, though. We need to keep this level every time we play.”
Palace actually had a chance to go ahead, but Jean-Philippe Mateta couldn’t put it away. Then Estevao pounced on a Jaydee Caanvan mistake and fired past Palace’s new captain, Dean Henderson.
Joao Pedro made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half. Canvot then got caught up in a handball drama—VAR ruled it accidental, so no red card, but Fernandez still buried the penalty.
Even after losing Adam Wharton to a red card in the 73rd minute, Palace kept pushing. Richards finally pulled one back in the 88th minute.
Chelsea’s attention now shifts to a Champions League trip to Napoli on Wednesday.
Rosenior tried to keep everyone grounded: “You can’t get too excited. There are still things we’ve got to fix, and honestly, I wasn’t happy with the last ten minutes. We should have controlled the game better.”
Mateta seemed to get some stick from his own fans after the whistle. Rumours are swirling about a January move, but Palace boss Oliver Glasner said Friday the striker hasn’t asked to leave—and they won’t let him go unless they have a replacement ready.
It’s been a rough stretch for Palace. They’ve already lost former captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City this month and, as FA Cup holders, got dumped out by non-league Macclesfield.
Glasner, who announced last week he’ll leave at the end of his contract this summer, admitted, “The club’s in transition. Since I arrived, we’ve lost four regular starters. That’s just reality for a club like Crystal Palace—it happens.
“There are going to be some tough spells when you’re in transition.”
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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