Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior admitted to frustration after his side’s Carabao Cup semifinal ended in heartbreak at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arsenal scored a dramatic injury-time winner through Kai Havertz to seal a 1-0 victory on the night and a 4-2 aggregate triumph, booking their place in the final.
Rosenior acknowledged Chelsea had areas of the game under control, particularly in the second half, but rued their inability to convert possession into a decisive moment.
“We dominated the areas we wanted to in the second half, but we didn’t find that quality moment,” he said. “When you’re pushing as we were, committing both defenders into the box, conceding late on can always happen. Arsenal knew they were in for a battle across both legs.
“There are clear improvements from the first leg to the second, but yes, it’s painful to lose – you want to go through. We just need to keep making improvements, which I’m seeing.”
Reflecting on the first-leg struggles, Rosenior highlighted the challenges he faced during his early days in charge.
“In the first leg, I’m not making excuses, but we had an illness sweep through the squad on matchday, with four players missing, and I’d only been in charge for three days,” he said.
“I cannot fault the application, intensity, or fight of the players. What we need to do is remember this is just the start. I’m really, really happy with a lot of things I’m seeing.”
Despite the defeat, Rosenior struck an optimistic note, emphasizing development and recovery. He stressed that while results matter, building consistency and improving performance remain priorities as he settles into his managerial role.
Chelsea will now turn their focus to the Premier League and other competitions, with Rosenior eager to ensure the team continues to learn from setbacks while maintaining resilience.
