Liam Rosenior has impressed in many ways since taking over as Chelsea manager and has improved many of the things that frustrated fans with Enzo Maresca.

Today, the Chelsea manager was asked about defender Josh Acheampong and whether he saw his future as a center-back or right-back. Since he has played in both positions so far, there is still some uncertainty about where he will end up long-term.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior praised Acheampong's rapid development and backed the young defender to reach the top, while highlighting the work being done within the club's defensive unit.

Rosenior has spoken warmly about Acheampong's character and potential, revealing he has already built a strong impression of the teenager both on and off the pitch during his first month in charge.

"First and foremost, Josh has incredible talent. In the time I've been here, which is a month, I've been able to get to know him, I've been able to meet his parents, and you can see why he's such a good lad, because he's been brought up the right way. Josh has immense potential."

"What I like to do with all my defenders, especially at his age, is put them in different positions because it improves their understanding of the game, improves their positioning."

"But yes, long-term, Josh is a center-back and has all the qualities to be an exceptional center-back at a very high level. My job is to help him, to develop him, and I am very much looking forward to working with him long-term," Rosenior said.

Josh Acheampong developed his entire football training at Chelsea, the club he joined from the under-8 category. After standing out in the youth categories, especially in the under-18 team, where he registered 31 appearances and 5 goals, he signed his first professional contract in January 2024. His official debut with the first team came on 2 May 2024, when Mauricio Pochettino brought him on in the final minutes of a 2-0 win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

During the 2024/25 season, Acheampong began to gain greater presence in the first-team squad, participating in the preseason tour of the United States and debuting in competitions like the Carabao Cup against Barrow and in the UEFA Conference League, where he started for the first time in December 2024. He had a standout moment early in 2025 by playing the full 90 minutes as a center-back in a draw against Crystal Palace, a performance that earned him the fans' player of the match award. During this period, he was part of the squad that won the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League and, subsequently, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

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