When you try to be something you’re not, it just doesn’t work – Mikel Obi reacts to Rosenior’s sack by Chelsea

Former Nigerian international, Mikel Obi has suggested that recently dismissed Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior failed to establish a genuine connection with the club’s culture.

Rosenior was relieved of his duties on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat to Brighton. The loss significantly hampered Chelsea’s prospects of securing a Champions League qualification spot.

Discussing the dismissal on his Obi One Podcast, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner argued that Rosenior’s approach felt forced. He noted that the manager’s tendency to be “overly intellectual” may have prevented his message from resonating with the squad, ultimately leading to a lack of cohesion on the pitch.

“From the very first minute I listened to him in a press conference, I felt there was something about him that didn’t click,” Mikel Obi remarked.

“Success in coaching requires players to believe in your philosophy. That only happens when you are authentic. You have to send the right message without sugarcoating things or trying to sound overly intellectual. You need to be natural, relaxed, and yourself. When you try to be something you’re not, it just doesn’t work.”

Mikel concluded by noting that the lack of synergy between the manager and the institution was apparent to many. “I never saw that connection with the football club. It didn’t sit well with me or a lot of other people. Many simply didn’t see it working out in the long run.”