Wayne Rooney has now admitted that Liam Rosenior’s dismissal from Chelsea evoked memories of his time under two former Manchester United managers at Old Trafford.
Liam Rosenior’s tenure at Stamford Bridge lasted only 106 days before Chelsea axed the 41-year-old former Strasbourg manager from the Premier League club.
Chelsea picked up 11 wins in 23 matches under Rosenior’s three-month reign after he was installed as the long-term successor to Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
Wayne Rooney has shared a close relationship with Rosenior after the ex-Chelsea boss was assistant manager to the Manchester United legend at Derby County.
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Wayne Rooney touches on Louis van Gaal and David Moyes at Man Utd after Liam Rosenior’s exit from Chelsea
Wayne Rooney saw both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal face the Old Trafford chopping block in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at the Premier League club.
David Moyes failed to see out his first full season after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, while Louis van Gaal replaced the Scotsman at the Red Devils in 2014.
However, Van Gaal would share the same experience as Everton boss Moyes after he was sacked from his role as Manchester United manager in 2016.
Rooney played under both Van Gaal and Moyes at the Red Devils and United’s all-time leading scorer linked the experience to Liam Rosenior’s sacking at Chelsea.
“[…] I was thinking the exact same because I’ve been there as a player and managers have been sacked and I was thinking back and I was thinking [of] David Moyes at Manchester United, Van Gaal at Manchester United and Ronald Koeman at Everton,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“And I was thinking of how I felt and I felt sad and felt like I’m a part of the problem. I’m part of this, why these have been sacked and you feel that.”
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Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney’s reaction to Chelsea’s FA Cup performance without Liam Rosenior at the helm
Chelsea overcame Leeds United in a 1-0 win in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday to secure their place in the final against Manchester City.
The Blues’ weekend result was their first match without the involvement of Rosenior in the dugout since his sacking and Rooney had mixed feelings on the matter.
“And then I was just watching the Chelsea players and I didn’t seem to see that in them,” Rooney added.
“There seemed to be a relief […].”
The United and England legend added: Yeah, so I didn’t seem to see that [they looked happy], which I get what happens, but then I think that’s where, as a player, you need to look at yourself as well.”
Calum McFarlane has been installed as interim head coach at Chelsea until the end of the 2025-26 Premier League season after Rosenior was dismissed this month.
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