Liam Rosenior Reflects on Chelsea vs. West Ham Rivalry After Dad’s Iconic Double and Red Card Incident

LIAM ROSENIOR knows all about the passion of Chelsea clashes with West Ham.

That is because he was there when his dad, Leroy, scored twice for the Hammers — before being sent off for hitting Blues legend .

Chelsea boss Liam RoseniorCredit: Getty Leroy Rosenior of West Ham and Steve Clarke of Chelsea clash during showdownCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd Leroy Rosenior during West Ham v Chelsea clashCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

The current boss repeatedly watched footage of 4-1 win at Upton Park in May 1988 as part of his footballing education.

was just three years old at the time but said: “I was there. I remember it, he got into a fight with Steve Clarke.

“I used to watch that game on VHS, again and again, because I saw my dad score for once.

“Now he is supporting Chelsea, by the way. If you know the history of the clubs, it’s a big game. It’s a London derby.

“I know what it means and that helps me.

“We are going to need energy, we’re going to need to win duels, we’re going to have to win set-plays, win tackles, that what these games are about.”

Rosenior believes he will learn more about his players today than he did from Wednesday’s fine

No one doubts the ability of his high-quality squad to go toe-to-toe with top teams on their day.

But the question is whether the Blues can back up the success in Italy at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Liam Rosenior with dad LeroyCredit: Getty Leroy Rosenior in action for West Ham as son Liam gets set to boss Chelsea against HammersCredit: PA:Empics Sport The Sun match report from May 1988 meetingCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

Rosenior 41, said: “For me, this is the biggest game of the season. I’m going to find out so much.

“If you want to be a consistent winning team, these are the games where you have to step forward and not be complacent after an away win in Italy.

“I want to see the consistency levels of the group.

“This is a massive mark of where we’re really at.

“I know how big the game is. I’ve made it really, really clear to the players, what’s happened in the past has gone.

“It’s about the next game and we have to make sure against a team that are in form, that we’re at our top level.”

Rosenior rejected the suggestion that the victory over Serie A champions Napoli — who are managed by former Blues boss — was a statement win for him.

But the way his players came from behind to seal a place in the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition was more evidence of how well they have taken to him.

The Blues squad has a World Cup winner in Enzo Fernandez, a Euros champion in Marc Cucurella and stars who work with the likes of Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti and England head coach Thomas Tuchel when on international duty.

Rosenior arrived at Stamford Bridge 25 days ago from Strasbourg as Enzo Maresca’s replacement with only a season-and-a-half of top-flight management under his belt.

Yet he seems to have overcome whatever doubts there were about him in the dressing room.

He said: “I don’t think about other managers or names.

“I’m myself and the reason I’m in this position is people have seen something in me that made them believe, like I believe, that we can be successful with me in this role.

“I’m not being arrogant when I say this. Before I came to Chelsea, I had Champions League clubs want to take me from Strasbourg, so I must have been doing something to be at this level.

“If you work in France it is an outstanding league.

“I’ve done some good work there, not in the Championship, in Ligue 1. I’m confident in myself and the players know that, working with me.

“I’m not thinking about whether I’m a big name or not.

“It’s whether I’m the right person to help this group achieve what I think they’re capable of.”

Many Chelsea supporters did not think Rosenior was the right person — and some will need more convincing.

But fans have sung his name more than they ever did Maresca’s.

Rosenior made a point of bowing to the away section in Naples and hitting his chest in solidarity, after some supporters were violently attacked before the match.

The Chelsea head coach added: “Those supporters were amazing, incredible in terms of the noise they created, they’ll never forget the atmosphere of that game.

“They paid so much money to fly to another country, to miss work.

“For them to give me any type of recognition, I have to give it back to them, because I want to thank them.

“They make a huge difference. They are the club.

“Also what happened was we had fans out there who were injured supporting us.

“I always have maximum respect for the fans, so to see them happy and singing for the club and to play a part in that, makes me very proud and motivates me to want to make it happen even more.”

Starting with the fixture in which Rosenior’s dad was once a little too motivated . . .