Chelsea Still Feeling Impact of Club World Cup Triumph

New manager Liam Rosenior faces challenge of managing squad's heavy workload from last season's tournament win.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Chelsea's new manager Liam Rosenior is still dealing with the lingering effects of the club's Club World Cup triumph last summer. The grueling schedule of the tournament, which saw Chelsea play seven games in less than a month, has taken a toll on the squad physically and mentally. Rosenior has had to carefully manage minutes and rotations to keep his players fresh as Chelsea push for a Champions League spot this season.

Why it matters

Chelsea's Club World Cup victory was a historic achievement, but the heavy workload from the tournament has created challenges for the team this season. Rosenior must find a way to balance high-intensity performances with the need to manage his players' fitness and recovery, all while keeping Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

The details

After winning the UEFA Conference League in May 2025, Chelsea traveled to the United States to compete in the Club World Cup, playing seven games in less than a month to claim the title. This punishing schedule left the squad fatigued, and Rosenior has had to be mindful of rotation and managing minutes to keep his players fresh. He cited this as a factor in Chelsea's recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the EFL Cup semifinals, where he named Cole Palmer among the substitutes to limit his playing time.

  • Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League on May 28, 2025.
  • Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign in Atlanta on June 16, 2025.
  • Chelsea won the Club World Cup title on July 13, 2025 in the New York City suburbs.
  • Chelsea returned to London on August 17, 2025 to start the new Premier League season.

The players

Liam Rosenior

The new manager of Chelsea, tasked with putting his own stamp on the team and managing the lingering effects of the Club World Cup triumph.

Enzo Maresca

The former Chelsea manager who led the team to the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup titles last season.

Cole Palmer

A Chelsea player who was named among the substitutes in a recent match against Arsenal in an effort to manage his minutes and recovery.

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What they’re saying

“You have to try to freshen up the team mentally and physically.”

— Liam Rosenior, Chelsea Manager (cbssports.com)

“When you're the level of player I get to work with here, the reason they are top and elite is because they make great decisions in the moment. Being fluid has positives in terms of being unpredictable. But if you do not have the right structure behind that you can become really open in transition. It's trying to find a balance.”

— Liam Rosenior, Chelsea Manager (cbssports.com)

What’s next

Rosenior will need to continue carefully managing his players' workloads and rotations as Chelsea push for a top-four finish in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League next season.

The takeaway

Chelsea's historic Club World Cup triumph last season has created a lingering challenge for new manager Liam Rosenior, who must find a way to balance high-intensity performances with the need to manage his players' fitness and recovery in a congested fixture schedule.