Chelsea Rout Charlton as Rosenior Era Begins with FA Cup Win Amid Fan Unrest

Chelsea began the Liam Rosenior era with a commanding 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic to reach the FA Cup fourth round. Despite the convincing performance, discontent among Chelsea supporters dominated the atmosphere, with chants aimed at owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly. Liam Rosenior, appointed after the messy departure of Enzo Maresca, oversaw a controlled display from a rotated side, resting key players ahead of upcoming fixtures. Goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and a late Enzo Fernández penalty sealed the win, while Charlton briefly threatened through Miles Leaburn. The debut cameo of teenage winger Estevão Willian impressed, but failed to ease supporter anger towards the ownership model. Rosenior’s tactical approach closely mirrored his predecessor’s, focusing on possession and control, yet defensive lapses remain a concern. Although the result marked a positive start on the pitch, unrest off it underlined the challenges facing Chelsea’s new head coach.