I spent 10 days with Liam Rosenior and the new Chelsea manager showed his true colours

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Just before the Championship took a breather before the World Cup in Qatar , Liam Rosenior was appointed as Hull City's new manager . During the break, club owner Acun Ilicali organised a 10-day retreat at the plush Regnum Carya resort in Antalya, Turkiye, providing his new boss an ideal opportunity to familiarise himself with the squad and instil his principles.

I was fortunate enough to accompany the team on this trip, one of three during Rosenior's reign at the MKM Stadium. This gave me a unique perspective into his work ethic, as he welcomed me into the Hull City fold and granted me unrestricted access to his training sessions and players around the resort.

Sharing the same hotel with Rosenior, his coaching staff, and the players allowed me to observe the new Chelsea head coach, Justin Walker, and Ben Warner up close. Rosenior was approachable, friendly, and exuded a relaxed aura around the resort , but when it came to his work, he was focused and driven.

He would dine with his coaching team during meals, maintaining a respectful distance from his players to allow them their own space. Rosenior was always open to discussing football and family, the latter being of immense importance to him.

His management style seemed to heavily incorporate this sense of family, recognising that everyone has their own needs and should be treated as individuals accordingly. Having enjoyed a successful stint as a player at City, helping the team secure promotion to the Premier League , Rosenior already had a rapport with the fans.

His willingness to attend fan events and engage in community activities only strengthened this bond. On the training ground, Rosenior was always at the heart of the action.

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He would lead sessions, frequently stepping in to demonstrate exactly what he wanted from his players. His hands-on approach was evident in every aspect of training.

Rosenior's training sessions were meticulously organised. While his assistants, Justin Walker and Andy Dawson, played their part in running certain elements of the sessions, it was clear that Rosenior was the one calling the shots.

If a drill wasn't performed correctly, they'd repeat it until it was perfect. The high standards and intense nature of the training sessions reflected Rosenior's belief in training as you play.

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He preferred high-energy inter-squad games over friendlies against other clubs. Chief analyst Ben Warner introduced a drone to record training sessions from above, with the management team dedicating substantial time to analysing movement and formation, focusing on building from the back and breaking through the lines.

His number six, Jean Michael Seri, at the heart of midfield, was pivotal to this strategy, as were his full-backs. It's clear he fostered strong relationships with his players.

Liam Delap spoke highly of him during our pre-season trip to Istanbul shortly after joining on loan from Manchester City , and Jean Michael Seri was notably upset when Rosenior left the club in the summer of 2024.

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His departure soon followed, demonstrating the respect his players had for him, which was evident throughout the season. From a media perspective, Rosenior was a pleasure to work with, both on and off the record.

He's acutely aware of what's being said in the media, including social media, something he'll have to manage on a much larger scale at Chelsea than he did at City.

No doubt, he will have adapted and learnt valuable lessons from his time in East Yorkshire, which he will have applied to his role in Strasbourg, in terms of both his style of play and man-management. However, his core principles will remain unchanged.

Rosenior, a gifted young coach, did an outstanding job at the MKM Stadium and his absence was keenly felt when he left City. As with all football debates, some argue that Acun Ilicali made the right call in letting him go, considering the squad that failed to make the play-offs.

However, others insist it was a poor decision, one that nearly cost the club a demotion to League One last season. In the end, Rosenior was beneficial for City, and vice versa...

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