The Carabao Cup is the first piece of silverware Liam Rosenior can get his hands on as Chelsea head coach, but he knows there is no chance of that happening if the focus strays from the next match.
The Blues meet Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening in the first leg of our semi-final tie with the Gunners. It will be Rosenior’s first home game in charge of the Blues and it comes against not only one of our biggest rivals, but the team leading the way in the Premier League and Champions League tables. A place in March's Wembley final is up for grabs.
Rosenior was asked at his media conference at Cobham today what winning this competition would mean for his future at the club. His answer was emphatic.
‘If you don't take care of the next game, those trophies don't exist,’ he said.
‘So, all I'm thinking about is winning the next game. I felt that against Charlton. I feel that about Arsenal. And after that, I'll feel that about Brentford.
‘I'm focused on the moment. I'm focused on putting on the best training sessions, the best meetings, the best advice, the best information I can to win the next game. Because honestly, finals and trophies don't exist if you don't take care of the now.’
Sitting in the opposite dugout to Rosenior will be Mikel Arteta, who has now been at the helm at Arsenal for six years. Our head coach recognises time in the role can play a part in shaping a successful culture and team, but he knows short-term gains are just as important – and that starts at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.
‘I'd love to be here for six years and longer, but I'm aware for that to happen, I need to win,’ said Rosenior.
‘I understand every club has a different project and the word 'project' comes out a lot now in football, but the idea in any project is in every game you play, you're trying to win it. It's as simple as that.
'So, yes, I've got ideas about what I want the team to look like in a year's time, two years' time, three years' time. But I think I've got enough resources and enough tools with me now to win now. I've made that clear to the players. So, we're going to give it our best shot on Wednesday.
‘The lads trained very, very well this morning and I'll make a decision on the team in the next few days and hopefully we go and attack the game.'