Liam Rosenior cut a frustrated figure in the post-match press room after watching his Chelsea side throw away two points against Burnley.
“I Won’t Name Him”: Rosenior Refuses to Blame Chelsea Defender for Costly Error
For the second time in two weeks, the Blues surrendered a lead, conceding a heartbreaking equalizer deep into stoppage time.
Chelsea looked destined for victory after holding a 1-0 advantage all the way through the second half and into extra time. However, their set-piece woes struck again at the death.
Burnley defender Zian Flemming rose unmarked to head home from a corner, snatching a point for the visitors and leaving the home dressing room shell-shocked.
Rosenior was visibly steaming as he addressed the media. Despite his frustration, the manager made a conscious effort to shield his player from public criticism—even after a glaring tactical error cost his team dearly.
When asked about the defensive breakdown that left Flemming, whom he described as Burnley’s best aerial threat, completely free in the box, Rosenior did not hold back on the nature of the mistake, but refused to hang the culprit out to dry.
“An assignment was missed,” Rosenior explained.
“A marking assignment wasn’t done. Flemming, we know, is their best header of the ball. There was a player we assigned that duty who marked the wrong player.”
The manager quickly stopped short of naming the individual responsible.
“There was a player who I won’t [name]. I’m not here to throw players under the bus. I will always protect my players. I will deal with it in the week.”
The incident marks another chapter in Chelsea’s ongoing struggles to defend set pieces this season, a persistent issue that predates Rosenior’s tenure.
While the manager took the blame for the team’s overall performance, the reality remains that a momentary lapse in concentration from one player proved extremely costly.
One can only imagine the pain that unnamed defender is feeling right now. For Rosenior, the focus now shifts to fixing those errors behind closed doors, away from the cameras, as he looks to prevent another late collapse in the future.
