Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has issued an update on struggling head coach Liam Rosenior, saying: "I think we're behind Liam."
It's perhaps not the vote of confidence Blues boss Rosenior was looking for in a rarely given interview by Eghbali, who also said the club were looking to sign more 'ready-made' players in the summer to help them be more competitive in the Premier League and in Europe.
Speaking at the CAA's World Congress of Sports conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, Eghbali addressed concerns around the club's transfer policy. Marc Cucurella recently bemoaned the lack of senior players at the club, but Eghbali says that will be rectified in the near future.
"The view was to recruit and build elite players that can, frankly, be together and have that stability in the squad. We're still in the 40th, 50th minute of that process," said Eghbali.
"But the view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world's best players, and ultimately the view was you need, eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably, year after year.
Eghbali has also spoken about the decision to part ways with Enzo Maresca, who made no secret of his unhappiness at the running of the club.
"Our policy has been no in-season [head coach] changes," he added. "You certainly review and hold not only the manager, but the management team, the sporting team, accountable, but typically in the summers, not in-season.
"It's not a change we wanted to make [Enzo Maresca leaving]. It's a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you're changing systems and personnel, and it's one we've got to fight our way out of.
Eghbali's admission that the club has a policy of no in-season managerial changes arguably makes Rosenior's position more tenuous, with the club likely considering whether or not to stick with the former Strasbourg boss for a full season, particularly in the likely scenario the club miss out on UEFA Champions League football.
"On Liam, we had the opportunity to work with him daily for 18 plus months, so we knew what we were getting," he added.
"We think he has every attribute to be successful here. He got off to a great start. We've had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we're behind Liam. Of course, it's a results business, but we think he can be successful long term."
