Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior praised his side’s patience and resilience after the Blues secured a narrow victory over Pafos, insisting the result was fully merited despite a stubborn challenge from the Cypriot visitors.
Playing at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea dominated large periods of the contest but were forced to wait deep into the second half before finally breaking through a disciplined defensive display.
Pafos arrived with a clear game plan and executed it effectively for much of the evening. Their goalkeeper Jay Gorter produced a series of impressive saves to frustrate Chelsea, while his defenders threw themselves in front of shots to deny the Premier League side a clear route to goal.
Chelsea’s pressure was relentless, yet the breakthrough proved elusive as chances came and went.
The decisive moment arrived 12 minutes from full time when Moises Caicedo rose highest to head home, sparking celebrations and releasing the tension that had built throughout the match.
It was a reward for Chelsea’s sustained attacking intent and refusal to abandon their approach, even as frustration threatened to creep in.
Rosenior, who is of Sierra Leonean descent through his father, reflected on his team’s perseverance after the final whistle.
“You have to keep banging on the door,” he said. “Obviously you want to get the breakthrough earlier to open up the game. I felt it was a harsh decision on Enzo. Maybe he puts his hands on him but in the Premier League it’s probably a goal.”
The Chelsea boss acknowledged there were areas for improvement but emphasised his satisfaction with the overall performance.
“You just have to keep going. There are things I was pleased with, things we need to improve on, but overall we kept going,” he added.
Rosenior reserved particular praise for Caicedo, whose goal ultimately settled the contest. “They were making block after block, save after save, and I was delighted for Moi to get the goal and the result we deserved.”
The victory maintains Chelsea’s positive momentum and underlines the importance of patience against well organised opponents. For Rosenior, the performance offered both encouragement and lessons, reinforcing his belief that persistence and belief can eventually turn pressure into points.
