Although Liam Rosenior couldn't have hoped for a better start to life as Chelsea manager after the Blues thumped Charlton 5-1 in last weekend's FA Cup Third Round, greater challenges await.
The Blues are preparing to host rivals Arsenal in a huge EFL Cup semi-final first-leg tie on Wednesday night. A match-up that will be Rosenior's first big test as he seeks to prove why he's the best man to replace the recently departed Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea will be hoping to keep Wednesday night's tie alive before the return leg at the Emirates at the start of next month. A lot could happen before then though.
John Obi Mikel tells Liam Rosenior importance of Chelsea trio
Tasked with managing one of the biggest squads in European football, Rosenior, who penned a six-year deal last week, must understand the importance of dressing room harmony.
Not every player is going to get the game time they're hoping for, and while it's normal for some players to fall out of favour following a new manager's arrival, former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes three players' happiness is non-negotiable.
Speaking on his 'The Obi One Podcast' YouTube channel, Mikel highlighted Cole Palmer and midfield duo Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo as Rosenior's 'spine' and warned the 41-year-old that the trio must buy into his philosophy. The now-retired Nigerian said:
"These are your spine. You need that spine to be happy with you. You need to drag them along with you. And if [Rosenior] doesn’t manage to do that, he’s going to lose that dressing room, and it’s all going to end before you know it."John Obi Mikel
Having spent a decade in London from 2006-16, Mikel, who won 10 major trophies as a Blue, knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a Stamford Bridge success.
Although hopeful Rosenior will lead his former club back to glory, Mikel wants to see the former Strasbourg boss get his most important players on board, and as quickly as possible.