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Rosenior tells referee to focus on job, not Chelsea huddle; Gordon blasts ‘nonsense’ from pundits

Liam Rosenior tells the referee to focus on his job, not the Chelsea huddle, while Anthony Gordon blasts ‘nonsense’ from pundits.

The Chelsea manager said that his team’s huddle in the centre circle of the pitch is a “show of respect” to each other rather than to annoy the opposition, after referee Paul Tierney had apparently ‘disrupted’ the pre-match ritual before the game.

It all got rather bizarre and awkward, with bemused looks on Chelsea faces when Cole Palmer wrapped his arms around Tierney.

Match of the Day pundits Ashley Williams and Joe Hart questioned why referee Paul Tierney protected the match ball on the centre spot.

Rosenior said that Tierney had brought up the huddle in a pre-match chat with his assistant. The Chelsea boss was asked about the incident after the game, was critical of the referee, and said he felt should have awarded Chelsea a penalty for Nick Woltemade’s challenge on Palmer.

“I’m disappointed,” Rosenior said, per BBC Sport. “There’s more focus and emphasis on the things that don’t matter.

“I’m going to make it really clear. I want to protect my players. I’m respectful to the game. My players made the decision that they wanted to be around the ball, to respect the ball and show unity and leadership.

“That is not my decision. That was a decision between the leadership group and the team.

“There is nothing that they’re doing with that huddle that is disrespectful to the opposition.”

Rosenior added that Tierney referenced a previous incident at Arsenal, when the Chelsea boss reacted angrily to a member of the Gunners staff being in his side’s half during the warm-up.

“We had a meeting with the referee, my assistant goes in, the first thing he talks about is our huddle,” said Rosenior. “He says about when I complained about Arsenal being in our half, it wasn’t the goalkeeper coach that was in our half.

“People were at that game at Arsenal, I said what I said. We’re not being disrespectful to the opposition.

“If Paul [Tierney] had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we have a penalty today. I don’t think anybody in this room can say that Woltemade doesn’t kick Cole Palmer down in the box.

“So let’s focus on the things that are important. My team showing unity is not as important as getting the decisions right on the pitch.”

On whether he spoke to Tierney after the game, Rosenior added: “I didn’t speak to Paul today or his officials. I thought it wasn’t the right thing to do today. But I’ll be speaking to PGMO.

“I’ll be speaking to the refs and just trying to get an understanding of why that happened today. We were told in the rule book it’s about timing. You can be where you want on timing.

“I just want to find a solution to this because we’re actually talking about something that’s nowhere near as important as what’s happening on the pitch.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, meanwhile, said the incident had “absolutely zero relevance to me”.

“I was totally non-fussed by it. I don’t pay any attention to things like that. It’s not going to help us win or lose the game.”

Chelsea’s huddles caused a stir when they did so against Aston Villa, frustrating their players and fans during the Blues’ recent 4-1 win at Villa Park.

Rosenior said on Friday: “There is nothing about the huddle that is intentionally to affect anything to do with the opposition, the fans, or anything at all. It was a decision that was made between the group and the leadership team about the way they wanted to show unity.”

Chelsea captain Reece James, who reportedly came up with the idea, said: “I like to speak to the players right before the first half starts and right before the second half starts.

“That is the best way I think I can get messages across to them.”

Anthony Gordon didn’t start the first leg of Newcastle’s Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona on Tuesday due to illness.

But that seemingly got criticism, with Roy Keane questioning why Gordon was able to be subbed on mid-way through the second half that night, but wasn’t fit enough to start.

Alan Shearer said it would take “something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game”, with Wayne Rooney asking why Gordon “wouldn’t shake our hands” beforehand only to then “sit in a dressing room with his team-mates”.

Ciaran Kelly, a Newcastle United reporter at Stamford Bridge, said via BBC Sport that Gordon had been in bed ill for three days and couldn’t be part in a walkthrough session on the morning of the Barcelona match.

Gordon said he wanted “ready to start” that night, but Eddie Howe made the final call to keep him on the bench having spoken with the club’s medical team.

Anthony Gordon said to Match of the Day after the game: “Usually I don’t like to clear stuff up because I don’t care too much.

“But this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense.

“When I got to the stadium the manager told me I wasn’t playing, which I didn’t like very much, but that’s his decision and the team played well.

“Saying I didn’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.

“I think Rooney said I went past and didn’t shake their hands and went into the changing room. I didn’t.

“I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. Complete nonsense. I think they need to do better at what they are doing.”

Eddie Howe said of Gordon after the Chelsea game: “He’s so single-minded and focused on what he needs to do that a lot of the noise just brushes off him, which is a great thing to be able to do if you’re him.

“I’d encourage every player to do it. Don’t get distracted, don’t absorb it, don’t take anything in – just focus on what you need to do.

“That’s what he always does. He’s been in a really good place of late. I’ve been very happy with what he’s delivered. This was a big game and he really stepped up. He scored the goal but contributed in so many ways to the win.”

Here’s how fans reacted after Liam Rosenior tells the referee to focus on his job, not Chelsea huddle; and Anthony Gordon blasts ‘nonsense’ from pundits…

@cath1960: Omg I’ve heard some bollocks in my time … “they wanted to respect the ball “ What is this ? Some kind of cult? Next they’ll be bringing on a sacrifice for the goal nets 🙄

@AviewofyourArse: This guy acted the big man when bleating about an Arsenal coach in the Chelsea half during the warm up. Sees nothing wrong with kettling the referee in the centre circle. Embarrassing hypocrite

@JustDanNUFC: Hilarious that it was Newcastle that should of has a penalty. James dragging people to the floor while not even looking in the direction of the ball but he wants a penalty for *check notes* Palmer standing on someone’s foot then going down holding his knee 😆

@Stiff_FC: It’s clearly some lame attempt at getting under the opponents skin. Rosenior and Chelsea are utterly embarrassing. Worry about scoring goals and winning games.

@the_bevmeister: Well fuck off and do it in your own half then? Didn’t like it when arsenal encroached in your half during their warm up, absolute tool.

@agbnufc_: This guy actually makes me want to watch an Arteta press conference instead, incredible that.

@shaunross99: What an absolute bellend this guy is.. just huddle anywhere on your side of the pitch, not bang in the middle. The ref was right to stand his ground.

@Funwithflares: ‘Respect the ball’ 😂😂😂

@NotJimWhite1: Week by week, he gets more and more embarrassing, desperate to be ‘different’, Have your huddle (not sure why they’re needed), but not in the centre circle, like EVERY OTHER TEAM who do huddles

@AdamP1242: I never understood this Anthony Gordon not wanting to play angle in the first place. Surely he wouldn’t of done that for Barcelona in the Champions League when he is already challenging for the UCL golden boot 😂😂😂 #NUFC

@OfficielKaybaye: Can’t believe he’s actually had to come out and say this mind. Complete idiocy from Shearer and Rooney.

@Jayb1970NUFC: Well done for calling these clowns out! Honestly man Shearer should know better as for Rooney he’s not really good at much these days unless he’s pissed 🤯🔫🤣🤣🤣

@nufcupdates9: Class of him to call this out. Rooney and Keane talking absolute nonsense. Shearer too tbh, although I’m not sure Howe had said he didn’t train in the morning when he made his comments about him pulling out to be fair. #nufc

@Pooliemags1Ttv: Fair play this mind… gets some weird criticism at times I think he’s been very good since the turn of the year #nufc

@MagpieMediaX: Into them lad. I know it wasn’t just him – but for someone viewed as a club legend, Shearer likes talking bollocks about some of our players doesn’t he? #NUFC

@Nufcmagpie77: Rooney chatting 💩 – wow what a surprise.

@NUFCLC: So Rooney blatantly lied about him and Shearer was flapping his gums about something he had no clue about. Fair play AG, get it called out. The mainstream media in this country are useless. These are two of your own pundits btw MOTD so why are you sucking up to him now?

@NUSCuk: Well said @anthonygordon

@NUFCgallowgate: Rooney and Keane being negative who would have thought it.

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