‘We all know you don't have control’ — Mikel slams Chelsea’s Rosenior

Tensions continue to rise at Chelsea, and now a former fan favourite has publicly questioned the authority of head coach Liam Rosenior.

John Obi Mikel did not hold back in his assessment, raising concerns about the manager’s presence and connection with the squad.

Mikel’s criticism centred on what he perceives as a lack of natural leadership from Rosenior, suggesting the Chelsea boss is trying too hard to assert control.

“There's something that is not quite right with his appointment. He's trying to speak in a certain way. He comes in press conferences, he's enforcing his authority by force. He wants to do it but it's not natural,” he said.

The former Super Eagles midfielder pointed to Rosenior’s communication style as a major red flag. “Every time I see him speak, it's like he's saying, ‘oh my team, oh my players…’ You don't do that. It's like you're trying to force yourself with the authority,” Mikel added.

He then delivered the most damning line of his critique: “We all know you don't have control.” For a club of Chelsea’s stature, such a statement only fuels the growing uncertainty around the manager’s position.

Beyond public perception, Mikel also questioned the internal dynamics within the squad, suggesting a deeper issue between the players and their manager.

“There is no cohesion, there is no chemistry, there is no trust between Liam Rosenior and his players,” he stated.

According to Mikel, the disconnect is visible on the pitch and in the players’ reactions. “I see him, and it’s like the players are not listening to him,” he added, painting a worrying picture of a team lacking direction.

With pressure already mounting on Rosenior following inconsistent results, comments like these from a respected former player will only intensify scrutiny on both the manager and the club’s decision-making.