Alan Shearer hits out at 'bonkers' Chelsea and sends blunt warning to Liam Rosenior

Enzo Maresca parted company with Chelsea on New Year’s Day and Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior is the leading candidate to replace him at Stamford Bridge

Alan Shearer has told Liam Rosenior he must surpass Enzo Maresca's achievements if he is to survive at a 'bonkers' club like Chelsea. Strasbourg boss Rosenior is the leading candidate to replace Maresca, who parted company with the Stamford Bridge club on New Year’s Day after 18 months in charge.

Maresca not only won the FIFA Club World Cup and Conference League but also led Chelsea back into the Champions League in his only full season in charge at Stamford Bridge. And Shearer said: “I'm a tad surprised that Maresca has left Chelsea, but then again, everyone knew there was something going on behind the scenes.

“When he came out with those comments a couple of weeks ago, it only intensified it; he clearly wanted to get something off his chest.

“You know when you go into that job what you're doing. It's a very different football club to others in terms of how it's managed. That’s not Maresca, that’s the people above him.

“Their model is obviously to buy young, develop them, and give them crazy long contracts with the potential to sell.

“I don't think you're going to win the league like that. You might get into the top four because you can spend, but in the main, the guy coming in has to do better than the guy that's left.

“The guy that left won two trophies last year. They were sitting in fifth, one win off the top four. So, I think he did a really good job. I'm not sure he could have done any better. His stock is high. Am I surprised? Not really.

“I think Chelsea is a bonkers football club at times. That's the owners; that's how they want to run their club. It's very different, and that's what Maresca was trying to tell us with that little rant three weeks ago.

“He was Manager of the Month in November. I know they've only won one in seven, and at a top club that is hard to watch, but nothing surprises me in football, let alone at that club.”

Rosenior spoke to the media in France on Friday afternoon, and while he insisted his focus was on today’s game against Nice, he did not deny that he had spoken to the Chelsea hierarchy about the vacancy.

But Shearer believes the 41-year-old needs to think long and hard about whether moving to Stamford Bridge is the right thing for his career.

“Liam Rosenior has had a good run at Strasbourg, he got sacked at Hull under slightly bizarre circumstances and he's highly thought of," he told Betfair.

“The big question will be: is he ready for a job the size of Chelsea? Does he know exactly what he's taking on? We've seen a guy go there recently with potential in Graham Potter, and we know what happened to him.

“I can understand the need for a young, up-and-coming coach. I don't think Chelsea will get one of the 'huge' managers because of the way they want to run the club. So, I guess that's why they'll go down the potential route rather than a big name manager.

“It would be great for a young English manager to get the job. He chose to go abroad and learn something different, which shows hunger. I know his time at Hull ended strangely, but to go abroad and learn a different lifestyle is impressive.

“He'll have to think long and hard about whether it's the right thing for his career, but Chelsea is a huge club in the mix for trophies. It'll be very difficult to turn down.

“Whoever comes in, top four is the target for Chelsea. They're not going to win the league; I think it's clear the top two will be City and Arsenal. They have to qualify for the Champions League. Pretty simple.”