Liam Rosenior was 'set up' by two Chelsea players before being dismissed.

The controversial statements by Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella are considered to have played a part in coach Liam Rosenior losing his position at Chelsea, as the team's performance deteriorated significantly.

The dismissal of Liam Rosenior from Chelsea continues to spark controversy, as former star Gary Neville claims that key players Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella contributed to this coach's departure.

After only 106 days in charge, Rosenior was terminated by Chelsea this week, less than 24 hours after a heavy 0-3 defeat to Brighton. This is the consequence of a terrible performance streak where the London club lost five consecutive matches in the Premier League without scoring any goals, thereby nearly losing the chance to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Although Rosenior initially impressed with seven wins in his first nine matches, the subsequent decline severely shook his position. According to Neville, besides professional factors, recent statements by Fernandez and Cucurella also indirectly "pushed" the English strategist out.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville candidly stated: “When results aren’t good enough, the coach gets dismissed—that’s normal. But honestly, Cucurella and Fernandez (two of Chelsea’s rare experienced players) worsened the situation by publicly expressing affection for Enzo Maresca, while the team wasn’t performing well under Rosenior.”

The former Manchester United defender also criticized Chelsea’s long-term policy, calling the 6–8 year contracts for coaches and players “confusing” and unrealistic.

Earlier, Fernandez himself admitted that Maresca’s departure greatly affected the team. The Argentine midfielder said he didn’t understand the club’s decision, while emphasizing that Maresca helped Chelsea build a clear tactical identity. “That departure hurt us deeply. The team once had organization, a clear direction in training and matches,” Fernandez shared.

Soon after, Cucurella also voiced support for the Italian strategist, suggesting Chelsea should have kept him until the end of the season. The Spanish defender stressed that Maresca brought confidence and a foundation for the team to compete for titles, while criticizing the instability in the coaching seat.

“Constant changes make the club unstable. We have an interim coach, then a new coach with new ideas but no time to implement them. That’s the problem,” Cucurella said.

These statements, according to Neville, inadvertently weakened Rosenior’s standing in the dressing room, contributing to Chelsea’s leadership deciding to dismiss him just over three months after his appointment.