6 days ago
18
Liam Rosenior’s first taste of managing in the Champions League will not live long in the memory. Chelsea toiled against determined underdogs and were at risk of a humiliating result before a late header from Moisés Caicedo kept alive their hopes of direct qualification into the last 16.
Victory lifted Chelsea to eighth in the standings. Yet they will have to be much better when they visit Napoli in their final game next week. FC Pafos were comfortable for long spells and Rosenior’s fourth game in charge had threatened to become an ordeal before Caicedo broke the Cypriot champions.
Chelsea have had a mixed return to Europe’s top table. They were schooled by Bayern Munich in their opening game, responded with comfortable wins over Ajax and Benfica, followed dropping points against Qarabag by thrashing Barcelona and conspired against themselves by losing from a 1-0 up against Atalanta last month. They remain maddeningly inconsistent, although they can never be ruled out in a cup competition. One-off occasions tend to suit their vibe and, for Rosenior, there is encouragement to be taken from mid-season managerial changes acting as the catalyst in the seasons when Chelsea have conquered Europe.
It was Roberto Di Matteo in 2012 and Thomas Tuchel in 2021. What those two managers had, though, was a group of hardened, gnarly winners. Rosenior has inherited a much more callow group, which is one of the gripes supporters have with the current ownership, and those who pine for the good old days perhaps felt a pang of nostalgia at David Luiz sitting on the Pafos bench.
Who can forget the 37-year-old defender playing with one working hamstring when Di Matteo’s side stunned Bayern in the 2012 final? The Brazilian also helped Antonio Conte’s Chelsea win the league in 2017 and was one of a few familiar faces in the Pafos team. Ken Sema, once of Watford, was at left-wing back and the attack featured Mislav Orsic, the Croatian forward whose goal in a win for Dinamo Zagreb ended Tuchel’s time at Chelsea.
Rosenior is the fourth head coach to try his luck at Chelsea since Tuchel’s departure. The 41-year-old exudes positivity on the touchline but the mood is less cheery in the stands. A lot of fans have turned on the board and there was a muted reaction to Chelsea’s initial struggles to take Pafos apart.
Chelsea were missing Cole Palmer, who was rested after complaining of tightness in his thigh, and they lacked ruthlessness during the first half. Some of the football was enterprising but the finishing was lacking. Enzo Fernández had an early goal disallowed and Reece James whistled a shot inches wide. Chelsea cried out for a killer. Liam Delap started up front but was short of service. The chances fell to less certain finishers. Jay Gorter made eye-catching stops from Caicedo and came to the rescue again on the stroke of half-time, racing from his line to deny Jorrel Hato when the defender advanced on goal.
Pafos, who almost led when Jajá struck a shot that pinged off Reece James’s arm and against the woodwork, were stubborn. They posed such little threat that Filip Jörgensen had not made a save before injury forced the Chelsea goalkeeper to make way for Robert Sánchez at half-time. Equally they had three draws from their first six games and were organised enough to draw Rosenior into bringing James off for Estêvão Willian for the second half.
Estêvão coming on to play at No 10 livened the crowd up. The teenager was soon involved, testing Gorter with a spectacular volley. Yet Chelsea’s frustration grew. Pafos were deep and sturdy. They threw themselves in front of crosses, blocked shots and barely looked interested in stepping out of their half as the hour approached.
Chelsea had to be patient. Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto were often crowded out on the flanks, although the opening goal almost arrived when Benoît Badiashile opened Pafos up with a backheel to release Estêvão, who sprinted in from the left before seeing his shot deflected wide.
Pafos were defiant. Garnacho looked set to score after being found by Wesley Fofana, only for Derrick Luckassen to thwart the winger. Rosenior began to look anxious. He made more changes with 20 minutes left. Jamie Gittens replaced Garnacho. João Pedro came on for the ineffective Delap.
Chelsea were looking witless. When the possession is aimless, though, set-pieces offer salvation. Pafos had defended so well but were finally caught out when Neto delivered a corner from the right in the 78th minute. Nany Dimata, the substitute, failed to clear at the near post and Caicedo rushed in to head into the bottom corner.
The celebrations were relieved rather than ecstatic. Pafos fumed, claiming Badiashile had shoved on of their players over in the middle. Chelsea had avoided their first goalless draw in Europe in 54 games.
