Liam Rosenior denies Peter Schmeichel claim about Chelsea star

Liam Rosenior has denied Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel’s claim about his first-choice goalkeeper at Chelsea.

Speaking during CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League last-16 tie between Chelsea and PSG, Schmeichel claimed Rosenior had informed Filip Jorgensen that he was not his No. 1 ahead of Robert Sanchez.

Sanchez has played ahead of Jorgensen for much of the season but was dropped after another shaky performance in Chelsea’s derby defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month.

Jorgensen therefore started Chelsea’s Champions League clash with PSG last week but made a costly error in Paris that helped the hosts clinch a dominant 5-2 first-leg win.

Sanchez came back into the side for Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Newcastle United and Rosenior insists he has not made a final call on the Chelsea goalkeeper position.

‘I never said to either goalkeeper behind closed doors who is number one or who is not,’ Rosenior told Sky Sports before the Stamford Bridge loss.

‘I have told them what they need to improve on, I have told them that they’ve done things really well.

‘I have never had a conversation with a goalkeeper and said, “You are my number one”.’

Rosenior’s admission goes against comments made by legendary goalkeeper Schmeichel last week, who said: ‘There is a change in the goalkeeping situation there as well.

‘Sanchez has played the bulk of the games in tournaments this season. He has now been replaced by a Danish guy, by the way, Filip Jorgensen.

‘My information is that Liam Rosenior has told Filip Jorgensen that he is, from now on, his number-one choice.’

Rosenior enjoyed an encouraging start to his Chelsea reign but results have dropped off since the start of February.

The Blues were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Arsenal and also lost to the Gunners in the Premier League following draws with Burnley and Leeds United.

Chelsea’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread following a 5-2 defeat in Paris, while their top-four chances were dealt another blow on Saturday as they lost to Newcastle.

‘The result isn’t the one we wanted,’ Rosenior said after Chelsea’s latest setback. ‘We just lacked the cutting edge today.

‘At the moment, the lads aren’t getting what they deserve. We need to find ways to have more quality in the final third.

‘The goal knocked the wind out of our sails. Football’s about momentum and that goal gave them momentum. We tried to find a tactical solution rather than a personnel solution, and we didn’t do that this evening.

‘Things aren’t always as great as you think they are when they’re going well, and things aren’t always as bad as they are when you’re going through a difficult spell.’

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