Liam Rosenior has defended his tactical approach following Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Chelsea went into the return leg at the Emirates trailing 3-2 from the first meeting at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior opted for a cautious setup, switching to a back five as his side looked to keep the game tight.
The Blues struggled to create chances, with Cole Palmer starting on the bench, and Arsenal eventually sealed their place at Wembley when former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time winner in the 97th minute.
Chelsea’s conservative approach drew criticism from pundits on Sky Sports. Paul Merson said he was “flabbergasted” by what he saw, claiming Chelsea “never had a go” and exited the semi-final without enough fight.
Jamie Redknapp also questioned the tactics, suggesting Chelsea needed to take more risks and warning there would be regret over not pushing harder to win the game.
Rosenior explained that his plan was to stay in the tie for as long as possible and apply pressure as the game progressed. Speaking after the match, he pushed back at the criticism.
“I’ve been a pundit, it’s easy,” Rosenior said. “It’s always easier in hindsight. If we go aggressive, press high and concede early, people ask what I’m doing.
“That’s football management. When you lose, you’re criticised. When you win, you’re praised.”
Rosenior also insisted his players performed well despite the result, claiming Arsenal were made to work for their place in the final.
Arsenal will now face the winner of the other semi-final between Manchester City and Newcastle United. City hold a 2-0 lead ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday with an away trip to Wolves.
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