Napoli 2-3 Chelsea: Blues qualify for Champions League last-16 with win – as Liam Rosenior proves he is no fool and eases any concerns over his appointment, writes KIERAN GILL

For so long, one of the criticisms aimed at Chelsea has centred on how inexperienced their young group is. If ever there was a fixture for putting hairs on players’ chests, we figured this was it – at the hostile home of Napoli, who had not lost at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since 2024.

It was to the visitors’ credit how they silenced the locals overall, even if they did make hard work of this win, with Rosenior’s somewhat experimental line-up in Naples complicating matters ever so slightly in the first half.

We know Reece James is a brilliant right back, and have marvelled at his use in midfield, though his role as a central defender next to Wesley Fofana here was unusual. Chelsea took the lead, but they were two poor goals from a defensive perspective which saw them fall behind by the break.

Nevertheless, it was to Rosenior and Chelsea’s credit how they found a way to triumph in the end – with Cole Palmer twice assisting goals from Joao Pedro after coming on as a substitute.

With that, Chelsea finished sixth in the Champions League’s standings, thereby avoiding adding another pair of fixtures on to the pile in the form of a punishing two-legged play-off.

Rosenior is no fool. He knows that there was cynicism surrounding his appointment as Enzo Maresca’s successor. But with each passing game, he has been easing those concerns, with this representing a vital victory for his side.

While Rosenior’s Chelsea bench totalled 12 players here, Antonio Conte only had seven Napoli substitutes to choose from: two goalkeepers, three defenders, a midfielder and a half-fit striker in Romelu Lukaku. It is little reason they are being linked with Raheem Sterling, therefore, especially as they have become a home for former Premier League players, including Scott McTominay.

Napoli’s supporters realise they are down to the bare bones but one reason they love McTominay is for his work rate. Daily Mail Sport even had the owner of a local pizza restaurant proudly showing us his signed McTominay shirt which he planned on having framed for the wall on Tuesday night, and the Scotland international increased the noise in the opening minutes simply by closing down Robert Sanchez with great gusto. The Chelsea goalkeeper’s clearance smacked McTominay in the head, leaving the midfielder requiring a check for concussion.

Despite their obvious limitations, Napoli looked dangerous. Chelsea took the lead via a set-piece as James’ free-kick was curling around the wall until blocked by the arm of Juan Jesus. Referee Clement Turpin did not need VAR to spy this was a penalty, which Enzo Fernandez scored in Palmer’s absence from the starting line-up to give the visitors the lead after 19 minutes.

Scoring early was supposed to be an ideal way for Chelsea to settle the nerves, even with Napoli’s large group of ultras gathered behind the goal.

However, the visitors failed to use their lead to kick on – something which has long been an issue with this team – and Napoli deserved their equaliser when it eventually arrived in the 33rd minute.

Andrey Santos’ clearance saw the ball end up with Antonio Vergara, knocking on 40 yards from goal. With few other options, he charged forward, evaded the challenge of Moises Caicedo from behind, and then turned Wesley Fofana before scoring beyond Robert Sanchez.

It would be no exaggeration to say the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona erupted. The Napoli bench emptied as everyone spilled on to the blue running track. It was Vergara’s first time scoring for the Italian side, and exquisite, if poor from Chelsea and Fofana in particular.

When Napoli made it 2-1 after 43 minutes, it was simple. A ball into the box from Mathias Olivera, and a finish from the Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund.

Rosenior’s experiment in using James alongside Fofana had not worked in the first half, prompting the thought that Trevoh Chalobah may prove useful. Chalobah’s introduction after 59 minutes felt like something of an admission that Chelsea’s set-up was not working, while Palmer was likewise brought on. 

It was in the 61st minute when the visitors struck back as Palmer’s pass found Joao Pedro, who turned and scored a screamer from 25 yards.

That gave Chelsea hope of snatching the winner which would send them into the Champions League’s last 16 without the need for two more matches on their calendar. It was within seconds of Lukaku being introduced for Napoli that the visitors got exactly what they wanted.

Palmer played a pass in behind, Joao Pedro picked it up, and just like that, Chelsea won, with Rosenior celebrating wildly down on the touchline. He earned that.