If Rosenior is dismissed, who will Chelsea choose?

A run of four consecutive Premier League losses is heating up Liam Rosenior's seat. Should Chelsea miss out on continental competition next season, this 41-year-old tactician stands a high chance of being sacked.

Patience at Stamford Bridge has always been a luxury. Rosenior needs to grasp this reality rather than overly relying on the owners' protection against criticism. Before him, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Enzo Maresca all failed to complete their contract terms.

If Chelsea's leadership does not trust Rosenior, what feasible alternatives are available at this moment? There are three options they could target for next season: Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis, and Unai Emery.

Fabregas is a familiar name at Chelsea. He spent five years playing at Stamford Bridge from 2014 to 2019, scoring 22 goals in 198 appearances and securing five major and minor trophies. Fabregas's name has been frequently mentioned this season as Como sits fifth in the Serie A standings. Fabregas's Como is the second-highest scoring team (57 goals, 21 less than Inter) and has conceded only 28 goals. Fabregas's prestige as a former player and his understanding of Chelsea help him exert influence in the dressing room at Stamford Bridge. The football style focused on ball control and the ability to nurture young players under this 38-year-old manager aligns well with Chelsea's leadership's aspirations. The limitation is that the former Spanish midfielder has only about two years of formal managerial experience and has never managed a top-tier continental club. The pressure at Chelsea is vastly different from Como. Additionally, Arsenal is also ready to target Fabregas if they need a replacement for Mikel Arteta, who is under pressure to end the Premier League title drought.

Also a former Chelsea player like Fabregas, Luis's career at Stamford Bridge was much shorter, with only 26 matches in the 2014-15 season. The former Brazilian defender began his managerial career in October 2024 at Flamengo but is currently unemployed. This 40-year-old manager has never even led a European club. Chelsea had considered Luis earlier last year before appointing Rosenior as the successor to Enzo Maresca. Choosing a South American manager like Luis appears more risky compared to Fabregas. Eighteen years ago, the Blues placed trust in Luiz Felipe Scolari, who had just emerged into the spotlight after successes with the Brazilian and Portuguese national teams. However, Scolari's reign at Stamford Bridge ended after just seven months.

If Chelsea is not confident with Fabregas and Luis, there remains a third, more reliable option: Unai Emery. The managerial experience depth of this 54-year-old coach surpasses both former Chelsea players. Emery is helping Aston Villa become an annoying disruptor in the Premier League after nearly four years in charge. He has experience at major clubs like PSG and Arsenal. This is crucial because Chelsea has never been a safe ground for inexperienced managers. If Aston Villa secures a Champions League spot next season, Chelsea would have to pay a significant sum to persuade Emery to leave Villa Park. His tactical adaptability is a notable strength and would help Chelsea maximize the potential of its current squad.

Studying replacement candidates like Luis, Fabregas, or Emery is not unnecessary, as Rosenior is showing signs of faltering amid the current performance crisis at Stamford Bridge.