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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior accused Arsenal of showing a lack of respect during the warm-up ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Rosenior was seen angrily remonstrating with members of the Arsenal staff, telling them to remain on their own half of the pitch as both teams prepared for the match. Arsenal went on to win the game 1-0, sealing a 4-2 aggregate victory to reach the final.
Speaking after the match, Rosenior said the issue was not with Arsenal’s players but with what he felt was a breach of long-standing football etiquette.
“When you warm up, you have your half and the other team have their half,” Rosenior said. “I’ve never asked my team or coaches to encroach on the opposition’s territory. In that moment, I didn’t think it was right where they were operating, because they were affecting our warm-up.”
The Chelsea boss insisted there was no attempt to engage in mind games, explaining that his reaction was driven purely by a desire for mutual respect.
“I asked them, maybe not politely, to make sure they stayed in their half,” he added. “I’m not here for mind games — it’s just what I think is right and respectful.”
Rosenior was keen to downplay any suggestion of a wider issue with Arsenal, praising manager Mikel Arteta and the club as a whole.
“I don’t have an issue with anyone at Arsenal Football Club,” he said. “Mikel is someone I’ve got so much respect for. It was just in that moment that I didn’t think that respect was shown to my team.”
Arsenal’s victory ensured their place in the Carabao Cup final, while Chelsea’s cup campaign came to an end despite a spirited performance on the night
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