Liam Rosenior got exactly what he wanted against Port Vale on Saturday evening: a big Chelsea win. But there was some bad news and Rosenior shared the news after the game.
After four straight defeats and the controversy surrounding Enzo Fernandez, with whom Liam Rosenior has handed a two-game ban for comments made during the break, Rosenior seriously needed a win.
He got that. A brilliant Chelsea display that saw the Blues take the lead in the second minute through Jorrel Hato. Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Tosin, Estevao, Andrey Santos and Alejandro Garnacho all scored.
A brilliant result, and while Chelsea were expected to beat Port Vale, Arsenal proved shortly after Chelsea that the FA Cup can produce some shocks. But manager Rosenior had some bad news after the 7-0 win.
Liam Rosenior delivers injury update on Jamie Gittens
Even Fernandez was all smiles as Chelsea secured a place at Wembley. But spare a moment for Jamie Gittens, who has endured a difficult start to life at Chelsea and has now suffered another hamstring injury.
According to Rosenior, it is Gittens’ third hamstring injury since joining the Blues for £55m from Borussia Dortmund. The Chelsea manager confirmed the injury, and is yet to learn how long Gittens is out.
“Unfortunately, Jamie, in training yesterday, picked up what looks like a hamstring injury again. We have to scan him and make sure. It’s a real shame for him, I think it’s the third time it’s happened,” he said.
“We need to help him and we need to make sure he’s okay. I can’t give you a time frame on that at the moment,” Rosenior continued, confirming that Gittens is yet to undergo a scan, but will be out for a while.
Chelsea will have a decision to make on Gittens this summer
Whether Rosenior will be Chelsea’s manager this summer is unclear. But if he does stay, the Blues gaffer will have plenty of decisions to make on his playing squad, and some will certainly be told they can go.
Gittens is a player with supreme potential. A player who has shown that potential in Germany, and there was a reason why Chelsea decided to spend £55m on him. But his first season has been a nightmare.
With Geovany Quenda joining the club at the end of the season, Chelsea will have five official wingers in the squad alongside Pedro Neto, Garnacho, and Estevao. Perhaps, a loan may suit all parties involved.