Liam Rosenior’s first outing as Chelsea manager comes with the threat of an FA Cup upset as the Blues travel to Championship strugglers Charlton for their third-round tie.
Elsewhere, Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank is battling to save his job amid mounting pressure, while Manchester United remain in disarray as caretaker boss Darren Fletcher attempts to steady the ship. As attention shifts away from the Premier League this weekend, AFP Sport highlights three managers firmly under scrutiny.
Rosenior set for Chelsea bow
Rosenior’s last spell in English football ended in disappointment at Plymouth, where Hull City’s 1-0 defeat in May 2024 dashed their Championship play-off hopes. Just days later, he was sacked, making his rapid rise to the Chelsea job less than two years on all the more remarkable.
The 41-year-old has rebuilt his reputation impressively, guiding Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season and emerging as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Even so, his appointment at Stamford Bridge raised eyebrows, despite Strasbourg also being part of the BlueCo ownership group.
Now, Rosenior faces immediate scrutiny, with his debut at The Valley offering a tricky test. Defeat against a Charlton side sitting 19th in the Championship would be a nightmare start.
“This opportunity coming at this stage of my career is fantastic, but my focus isn’t just being Chelsea manager, it’s being a winning Chelsea manager,” said Rosenior, whose father Leroy played for Charlton in the 1990s. “We have to hit the ground running.”
Frank on the brink
Tipped as an inspired appointment after his impressive work at Brentford, Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham has quickly exposed the challenges of managing one of the Premier League’s traditional heavyweights.
Hired swiftly after Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal last season, the 52-year-old has struggled to meet expectations in north London. His pragmatic, defence-first approach — built on organisation, intensity and set-pieces — contrasts sharply with Postecoglou’s expansive style and has failed to win over supporters.
With just three wins in their last 13 matches, frustration among fans is growing, and defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday could leave Frank teetering on the edge.
Fletcher under the spotlight at United
Darren Fletcher gets another chance to stake his claim as Manchester United’s caretaker manager when the Red Devils face Brighton, with their hopes of salvaging silverware still alive.
United intend to appoint an interim boss until May following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on Monday, with reports linking former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick to a temporary return.
Fletcher’s case was not strengthened by a 2-2 draw at struggling Burnley on Wednesday, despite signs of improvement going forward. Amorim’s reign ended after a miserable run of one win in five home games, and Fletcher must halt that decline against Brighton.
The Seagulls had won on each of their three previous visits to Old Trafford before losing 4-2 there in October, underlining the size of the task facing United’s caretaker coach.
