ESTEVAO teased Liam Rosenior after the Chelsea manager’s horrendous touch was caught on TV.
The Blues are trying to find reasons to be cheerful following their Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal.
And Rosenior’s failure to control the ball in Tuesday’s tie provided some light relief in a tough week.
The Stamford Bridge chief said: “The lads played it back to me and we’ve had a laugh about it. Estevao said he can’t believe that I was a professional footballer!
“I love this job. I am serious in many aspects and demanding in many aspects.
“But life is too short. You have to be able to laugh at yourself — and at the moment, a lot of people have been laughing at me.”
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Social media mickey-taking has been relentless towards Rosenior, 41, who had a 16-year playing career with Bristol City, Fulham, Torquay, Reading, Ipswich, Hull and Brighton.
Even Manchester City got in on the act, posting a video of Pep Guardiola chipping a ball into his arms captioned “our coach’s touch”.
Guardiola made his own headlines earlier this week with comments about current conflicts around the world.
Jewish leaders in Manchester urged him to “focus on football” after he spoke of his horror about genocide in Palestine — but did not mention last year’s attack on the city’s Heaton Park synagogue in which two Jewish people died.
But Rosenior, who has previously spoken up on social and political issues, said: “Pep, when he was playing for Barcelona, he was my favourite player.
“Everyone speaks about him as a manager. I’m old enough to remember what a magnificent player he was.
“I watched him coach and he inspired me as a coach, as he has done many coaches.
“In terms of him and his ideologies, if you have a platform and you believe in something, why shouldn’t you speak about it if you’re being respectful?I respect different people’s viewpoints on many things.
“So, if you feel strongly enough and you speak with respect, you should be able to feel like you should do it.”
Rosenior is not afraid to be himself and speak earnestly about what he believes in, on and off the pitch.
His 100 per cent record in three Premier League games as Chelsea boss earned him a nomination for January manager of the month.
And he knows the only way to win over the doubters is to keep that run going at rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday and then at home to Leeds on Tuesday night.
The Willie Isa effect
Rosenior will embrace anything he thinks will give Chelsea an edge — which includes Blues’ pre-match huddle.
It is part of a wider strategy to build team spirit and unity, in which Willie Isa — the former rugby league star who is the Blues’ players support and development officer — is a key figure.
Rosenior said: “Willie is a top guy. He comes from New Zealand where the culture of togetherness and spirit is crucial. He’s spoken with the leadership group about different things we do.
“There are many things that aren’t seen — but that’s one of the many things that has been seen in terms of what we’re trying to create here.
“For me, everything is psychological, everything starts with the mind. Your own performance, everything. If your mind is in a good place, the rest takes care of itself.
“We have to attack this game in the same way we attack every game. With the right mindset.”
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