Former Hull and Derby manager Liam Rosenior enjoys a great first season in France in the Elsace Club Bought by Chelsea owners Blueco as his team a place in Europe
Liam Rosenior has encouraged his young RC Strasbourgers to live the “dream” and qualify for the Champions League in his first season in France. But the ex-hull boss has warned that Aston Villa is confronted with a nightmare similar play against his favorites Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals next month.
Rosenior, 40, was interested last summer of Sunderland and Burnley before signing a three -year -old deal with the Elsace Club bought by Chelsea -owners BlueCo in 2023. And despite the youngest team in Ligue 1 – his team against Nice was the youngest in the French top for 75 years – they are seventh with all more with more points with all more points. The Blueco policy of developing young stars has worked better and faster – and certainly on fewer costs – under Rosenior than at Stamford Bridge.
And with eight games to go, RC Strasbourg are only four points in a Champions League spot and qualify for the first time since 1980 for the European top club competition. Rosenior is one of the candidates for Leicester and Southampton when they return to the championship next season. But the former England under 21 International has higher ambitions.
“My focus is on bringing us to Europe,” he said. “You are in football to dream. I never want to limit the dreams of my players. I am not arrogant, but with eight games to play? Of course it is possible. I want my players to dream. I want them to believe they can win in every game they play.
“We are in a position that I don't think many people would have believed that we would even be in it now. So what we have to do is enjoy it. There is no pressure on us.
“We have to play as we have played, play to win every game. And I think if we do that, and to the level that I expect that we can play, that we can have a real, really exciting end to the season. We can fail. But it has been a really successful season in the long -term identity of the club's long -term identity.”
Strasbourg can catch up with a fifth placed with a home victory on Friday, but confronted with a tough run with matches against Monaco and PSG. “If you want to reach the Champions League of the Europa League, you have to beat the best teams,” said the former Fulham, Reading, Hull and Brighton Defender.
PSG is the best team in France and can close a fourth consecutive title this weekend before former coach Unai Emery returns to the Parc De Princes with his villa side on April 9.
“For me, PSG are the favorites to win the Champions League,” Rosenior. “They are currently the best team in Europe.”
The Blueco connection has lent midfielder Andrey Santos and keeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea. The Serbian was expected to return to West -London to compete for the number 1 Jersey with Robert Sanchez and Fili Jorgensen. But Petrovic said: “It can be a very good option to stay here if Strasbourg is eligible for the Champions League.”
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