Liam Rosenior enjoyed a dream start as Chelsea head coach, watching his side dismantle Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Taking charge just days after his appointment from Strasbourg, Rosenior opted for a youthful lineup that dominated possession at The Valley.
Jorrel Hato scored the first goal of the new era, followed by strikes from Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Guiu.
Despite a brief Charlton revival, the Blues looked revitalized under Rosenior’s 4-2-3-1 system.
The 41-year-old described the performance as “a foundation to build on” as he seeks to propel Chelsea back into the Champions League spots.
“I think the biggest thing I challenged the players on was our reactions to setbacks, our intensity,” he said after the game. “I was very happy with the togetherness and the spirit of the group today.
“I was very happy with the intensity that they ran at – winning duels, winning headers, all of the basics. And that’s where you get your joy from.”