Honestly, it’s been a chaotic start to 2026 for anyone following the Blues. If you’ve been keeping up with fc chelsea news now, you know the vibes at Stamford Bridge shifted massively the second the calendar turned. Enzo Maresca is out, Liam Rosenior is in, and the "process" has taken a very sharp, very sudden turn. It's not just about the manager swap, though. We’re sitting here on a Saturday afternoon with a London derby against Brentford looming, and the stakes feel weirdly high for a mid-table scramble.
The Rosenior Era Begins (For Real This Time)
Liam Rosenior, or "Le Professeur" as some of the Strasbourg faithful called him before he made the jump, hasn't had the easiest start. Losing 3-2 to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg wasn't the dream debut, even if the 5-1 thrashing of Charlton in the FA Cup bought him some breathing room. But the real test is today. This is his Premier League bow.
Chelsea currently sits 8th. That’s not where the "BlueCo" project was supposed to be in Year 4. The 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30th was the final nail for Maresca, despite him winning the Club World Cup just months prior. Results matter, sure, but the rumors of friction between the Italian and the hierarchy over the long-term squad vision were clearly the bigger issue. Rosenior is seen as the ultimate "company man" but with a tactical brain that fits the high-pressing, youth-heavy roster.
Cole Palmer and Reece James: The Training Ground Boost
The biggest bit of fc chelsea news now is undoubtedly the fitness of the "English Core." We’ve all been holding our breath. Both Cole Palmer and Reece James missed the Charlton and Arsenal games. When you lose Palmer, you lose the guy who’s carried the creative load with 8 goals in all competitions this season.
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But there’s a massive silver lining.
Rosenior confirmed on Thursday that both players returned to full training at Cobham. While a nasty virus has been ripping through the camp—sidelining the likes of Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens—Palmer and James seem to have escaped the worst of it. Seeing them back on the grass in the Friday session photos was the boost every fan needed. If they start against Brentford, Chelsea’s win probability spikes. If they don’t? Well, we’ve seen how toothless the attack looks without Cole’s vision.
The Marc Guehi Windfall and Transfer Rumors
Transfer windows at Chelsea are usually a fever dream. January 2026 is feeling a bit more calculated, though. The big news today isn’t an incoming signing yet—it’s a cash injection. Marc Guehi is reportedly on the verge of a £20 million move to Manchester City. Because of the 20% sell-on clause Chelsea tucked into his Crystal Palace deal back in 2021, the Blues are set to pocket around £4 million.
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It’s not "buy a new striker" money, but it helps the PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) balance sheet. Especially since the Premier League just voted to close those loopholes about selling hotels to sister companies.
Speaking of signings, the scouts are busy. Jeremy Jacquet is the name on everyone's lips for the center-back spot. Rosenior reportedly wants more height and recovery speed in the backline, especially with Levi Colwill out for the long haul with that ACL injury. There’s also talk of Como’s Jacobo Ramon, but that feels more like a "one for the future" move.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Current Standings
Look at the table. Chelsea has 31 points from 21 games.
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People are acting like it’s a total disaster. Is it great? No. But we’re only one point behind Fulham and Manchester United. The gap to the European spots is bridgeable, especially with the "new manager bounce" potentially kicking in. The issue has been consistency. You can't draw 1-1 with Man City (a great result!) and then lose 2-1 to Fulham three days later. That’s the kind of volatility that got Maresca sacked.
The Injury List and Suspension Headache
It’s not all sunshine. The squad is still thin in key areas:
- Levi Colwill: Still out (ACL).
- Roméo Lavia: Only seven appearances this season. He’s battling another fitness setback and likely won't feature today.
- Mykhailo Mudryk: Still serving that provisional suspension over the failed drugs test. It’s a bizarre cloud hanging over the club that nobody expected.
- The Virus: Keep an eye on the lineup. If Jamie Gittens isn't even on the bench, you know the bug hit him hard.
Actionable Insights for the Brentford Match
If you’re watching the game today or tracking the live updates, keep an eye on the tactical shift. Rosenior likes a fluid 3-4-3 or a hybrid 4-3-3 that transitions quickly.
- Watch the Wing-Backs: With Reece James back, does he play him as a traditional RB or push him higher?
- The João Pedro Factor: He’s tied with Enzo Fernández for top league scorer (6 goals). Watch how he links up with Estêvão on the right.
- The First 20 Minutes: Chelsea has a bad habit of starting slow. Rosenior’s Strasbourg teams were famous for "blitzing" the opposition early. Let's see if that translates to the Bridge.
The Marc Guehi money and the return of Palmer provide a bit of optimism, but the reality is Chelsea needs three points today to stay in the hunt for any kind of European football. A loss to Brentford would put the Bees above us in the table—and that's a headline nobody in West London wants to read tomorrow morning.
Keep an eye on the late fitness tests for Liam Delap. If he's out, Marc Guiu might get a rare start up top. It's going to be a nervy afternoon.