Liam Rosenior attacks Chelsea players after Brighton loss in brutal interview | Football | Sport

Liam Rosenior ripped shreds out of his Chelsea players after their 3-0 defeat at Brighton, declaring their performance “indefensible” and “unprofessional” and accusing some of his players of a lack of effort. The 41-year-old, only appointed in January, was savage in his post-match interview following a gutless loss at the Amex Stadium that marked the Blues’ fifth successive Premier League defeat. They have failed to score a single goal in that run, and have lost seven of their last eight across all competitions.

Chelsea were 1-0 down inside three minutes at Brighton in a match they needed to win in their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League. But the Londoners failed to manage a single shot on target in a toothless display as the Seagulls ran out comfortable winners.

A furious Rosenior told Sky Sports: “That was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner on goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.

“Why did it happen? We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.

“But the general attitude, spirit was lacking – determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.”

Chelsea have lost five successive league games without scoring for the first time since November 1912. And their five-match losing streak is their longest in the Premier League since November 1993.

The former Strasbourg head coach added: “The first goal was terrible. We had an easy header and missed the header. The passage before the first goal upset me even more. We had four or five moments to show moral courage, and take the ball down and play. We just kicked the ball back to Brighton.

“You can speak about a lack of confidence, or results not going our way. That doesn’t represent anything that I want to see, and I won’t ever see it again. The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career.

“Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again. You have to ask the players. If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me.

“That doesn’t represent the football club in anyway. That has to change, starting with the FA Cup semi-final (vs Leeds United) on Sunday. I don’t want to go into that right now. I have my own thoughts, my own feelings. I have discussed in depth about this football club – regardless of who is the manager – about what needs to happen at this football club for it to be where it needs to be.

“It’s about this football club, Chelsea represents fight, spirit and determination. That was lacking in every department this evening. We’ve had injuries. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality. That team we put out today was far better than its engagement in the game.

“I will pick a team that will represent the club in the correct manner. This was a huge game and we didn’t hit anywhere near the mark. Every game between now and the end of the season is a huge game, and it needs to look like that in the way we play. We have to make sure we get it right for Sunday.”