Liam Rosenior will take charge of Chelsea for the first time this weekend when the Blues travel to Championship strugglers Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round, a fixture that carries the familiar risk of a cup upset.
Elsewhere, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is under mounting pressure to save his job, while Manchester United caretaker boss Darren Fletcher is bidding to steady a club in turmoil.
Here, AFP Sport highlights three managers under the spotlight as attention shifts from the Premier League to the FA Cup.
Rosenior begins Chelsea reign
Rosenior’s return to English football comes less than two years after he was dismissed by Hull City following a disappointing end to their Championship play-off push. At the time, few would have predicted a rapid rise to the Chelsea job.
The 41-year-old rebuilt his reputation in France with Strasbourg, guiding the unfancied side to a seventh-place finish and earning plaudits within the BlueCo ownership structure. Still, his appointment as successor to Enzo Maresca surprised many observers.
Rosenior now faces an immediate test at The Valley, where defeat against a Charlton side sitting 19th in the Championship would heap pressure on his new tenure.
“This opportunity is special, but my focus is on being a winning Chelsea manager,” Rosenior said. “We have to start strongly and carry that momentum through the season.”
Frank under pressure at Spurs
Thomas Frank’s move from Brentford to Tottenham was initially hailed as inspired, but the Danish coach has struggled to impose himself at a club accustomed to lofty expectations.
Appointed after the departure of Ange Postecoglou, Frank’s pragmatic, defence-first approach has failed to win over supporters accustomed to attacking football. Tottenham have managed just three wins in their last 13 matches, leaving the 52-year-old under intense scrutiny.
Saturday’s FA Cup clash at home to Aston Villa could prove decisive, with another defeat likely to increase calls for his dismissal.
Fletcher fights to lift United gloom
At Manchester United, Darren Fletcher remains in caretaker charge following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this week. United are expected to appoint a permanent manager in the summer, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick reportedly among those considered for an interim role.
Fletcher’s prospects were not helped by a 2-2 draw at Burnley in midweek, despite signs of attacking improvement. United have won just once in their last five home games, a run that ultimately ended Amorim’s reign.
The former midfielder now faces a crucial FA Cup tie against Brighton, who had won on their previous three visits to Old Trafford before losing there in October. A positive result could keep United’s faint hopes of silverware alive — and bolster Fletcher’s case to stay in charge a little longer.
