Chelsea began the Liam Rosenior era with a comfortable 5-1 FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, though supporter anger again overshadowed events on the pitch. Chelsea’s second string dominated possession and progressed smoothly to the fourth round, but chants against owners Clearlake Capital and nostalgia for Roman Abramovich filled the away end.
Rosenior, appointed after the messy departure of Enzo Maresca, rotated heavily with key players rested. Goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández sealed the result. Charlton briefly threatened when Miles Leaburn scored from a corner, again exposing Chelsea’s defensive lapses. A lively cameo from teenage winger Estevão Willian won the late penalty. Despite the emphatic victory, dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s ownership and long-term project showed no sign of fading.
