Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has publicly applauded the transformative impact of new Blues boss Liam Rosenior on ex-stamford Bridge left-back Ben Chilwell during their time together at French club Strasbourg.
The Rosenior Appointment and Immediate Challenge
Chelsea confirmed Rosenior's appointment as head coach on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, filling the vacancy left by Enzo Maresca's departure on New Year's Day. The 41-year-old English manager arrives with a burgeoning reputation, having steered BlueCo-owned Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, securing European qualification for the first time in six years.
This campaign, his Strasbourg side have continued to impress, topping their Conference League group phase as one of only two unbeaten teams in the competition. Despite this success, Leboeuf has pinpointed Rosenior's work with one particular player as the most telling sign of his quality.
Revitalising a 'Bomb Squad' Outcast
The player in question is England international Ben Chilwell. The 29-year-old, who made 107 appearances for Chelsea between 2020 and 2025, was a key figure in the club's Champions League, Club World Cup, and Super Cup triumphs. However, his fortunes changed dramatically in the summer of 2024 when then-manager Maresca placed him in the notorious 'bomb squad'.
This group was excluded from first-team training and actively encouraged to seek moves away from Stamford Bridge. Chilwell, a £45 million signing in 2020 and a 21-cap England international, eventually secured a transfer to Strasbourg on September 1, 2025, signing a two-year deal.
It is his subsequent revival under Rosenior that has caught Leboeuf's expert eye. "He's a fantastic coach," the former Chelsea star stated on ESPN. "He knows how to make people work and work together. I want to wish him the best because he has all the knowledge and the psychology to make people work and work very well."
A 'Different Guy' Under New Management
Leboeuf elaborated on the specific case of Chilwell, suggesting a profound change in the player since his Chelsea exit. "He did it with young players, so I don't know what's going to happen with experienced players, but we can see [it] with Chilwell playing for Strasbourg this season," Leboeuf observed.
"According to what I saw, and what some people would tell me, [he's] a different guy from before he left Chelsea. So, I guess he also knows how to work with experienced players. It's going to be a good thing, I think, for Chelsea."
The statistics and performances back up Leboeuf's praise. Since moving to France, Chilwell has featured in 16 matches across all competitions, rediscovering his form and influence. He notably provided an assist in Strasbourg's 3-1 Conference League victory over Breiðablik last month, demonstrating his return to creative effectiveness.
Rosenior's proven ability to rehabilitate a high-profile player deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea will be seen as a major positive as he embarks on his new role at Stamford Bridge. The task ahead is significant, but his work with Chilwell offers a compelling case study in man-management and tactical rejuvenation that the Chelsea hierarchy will hope he can replicate in West London.
