Liam Rosenior has claimed one of his Chelsea players is "the best midfielder in world football".
The 41-year-old, who spent 18 months in charge of Strasbourg and helped the club achieve a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, was appointed Chelsea's head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Rosenior will take charge of his first Chelsea game on Saturday evening, when the Blues take on Championship side Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup.
Earlier this week, the former Fulham, Reading and Hull City defender was reunited with some of his former players, including Liam Delap, Robert Sanchez and Andrey Santos, who flourished at Strasbourg last year.
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Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of this weekend's game against Charlton, Rosenior was asked if he had spoken to any of his former players before joining Chelsea.
"I had a fantastic relationship with Andrey Santos last year," he said. "Liam Delap... I’ve known Rob Sanchez from the age of 16, 17 years old, coaching him at Brighton, but purposely I didn’t want to speak to them."
"I want to have a good relationship with all my players, and actually, I quite like the challenge of walking into the dressing room," he added. "I enjoy the challenge of walking in."
Rosenior went on to speak about the calibre of players at Chelsea, and claimed Moises Caicedo is "the best midfielder in world football".
"Enzo Fernandez has won the World Cup - what a fantastic player he is," said the former defender. "For me, Moises Caicedo is the best midfield player in world football, in my opinion.
"I’m walking into a group of players who I’ve got so much respect for, for what they’ve already achieved.
"It’s a challenge for me, will they buy on me, will they believe in my message? I actually enjoy that, it sounds a bit crazy, I am a bit crazy but I enjoy that challenge.
"If you want to be a successful manager, the first thing you have to do is get your players to buy into who you are and what you stand for."
The coach also spoke about Enzo Maresca's efforts with the squad.
It comes after the Italian parted company with Chelsea on New Year's Day following a poor run of form, as well as a reported deterioration in his relationship with the club's hierarchy.
"I was watching the Club World Cup final as a fan. The performance against PSG, it’s 100 degree heat and they ran and they pressed. Enzo did a fantastic job here in certain ways," said Rosenior.
"I don’t know what happened for me to end up in this position but there’s a lot of good work that’s happened before I’ve come, which is actually very helpful to me. I have to say as well, in the short period we’ve had, Calum McFarlane has been magnificent.
"The second half performance against Man City was top, the lads ran for 75 minutes away from home at Fulham with 10 men and nearly got a result and should’ve got a result through their energy and intensity.
"I’m walking into a really good group of lads, which actually has been even more exaggerated in that feeling from being in with them the last two days, so I’m in a good place.
"I think they’ll buy into me, I think they’ve seen on the training pitch, not just me but my staff, what we’re about, I think they’re quite excited now they’ve got to know me in a short space of time and I’m looking forward to what comes in the next few weeks."
Topics: Chelsea, FA Cup, Premier League
Jack Kenmare