Liam Rosenior begins his reign as Chelsea manager with a potentially tricky FA Cup third-round tie away to second-tier Charlton, a fixture that carries classic giant-killing danger.
Elsewhere, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is under intense pressure as he fights to save his job, while Manchester United remain in disarray, with caretaker boss Darren Fletcher attempting to steady the ship.
AFP Sport highlights three managers under scrutiny as Premier League clubs turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend.
Rosenior set for Chelsea debut
Rosenior’s last experience managing in English football came in May 2024, when his Hull City side suffered a 1–0 defeat at Plymouth, ending their push for a Championship play-off place. He was dismissed just days later, making his rise to the Chelsea job less than two years on all the more remarkable.
The highly driven 41-year-old rebuilt his reputation in France, guiding Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season and earning praise as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Despite that success at a club also owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo, his appointment at Stamford Bridge still came as a surprise following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Now under intense scrutiny, Rosenior faces an immediate test at The Valley. He knows a strong start is essential to silence sceptics, and defeat against Charlton—currently 19th in the Championship—would be a damaging start to his tenure.
“For this opportunity to come at this stage of my career is special, but my focus isn’t just being Chelsea manager—it’s being a successful Chelsea manager,” said Rosenior, whose father, Leroy, played for Charlton in the 1990s. “We have to start strongly for the rest of the season.”
Frank under pressure
Touted as a perfect appointment after his impressive spell at Brentford, Thomas Frank’s time at Tottenham has highlighted the challenges of managing one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Spurs acted swiftly to appoint the 52-year-old after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou at the end of last season. However, Frank has struggled to meet expectations, with his more cautious, defence-first approach contrasting sharply with Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy.
While those methods brought success at Brentford, they have failed to convince Tottenham supporters. With just three wins in their last 13 matches, frustration is growing, and defeat at home to Aston Villa on Saturday could leave Frank on the brink of dismissal.
Fletcher eyes extended United role
Darren Fletcher will have another chance to strengthen his case as Manchester United’s caretaker manager when the Red Devils face Brighton, with a place in the FA Cup at stake.
United plan to appoint an interim boss until May while searching for a permanent replacement after sacking Ruben Amorim earlier this week. Reports suggest the club has held talks with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick about a temporary return.
Fletcher’s hopes of staying on were dented by a 2–2 draw away to Burnley on Wednesday, despite signs of improvement going forward. Amorim’s reign ended after a poor run that yielded just one win in five home games.
Fletcher must now arrest that decline against Brighton, who had won on their previous three visits to Old Trafford before losing 4–2 there in October.