Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has praised his players' "unity" after they began gathering in a circle before each half. The new ritual appeared to frustrate Aston Villa's players and supporters, who booed the Chelsea squad while stood partly in their half during the interval, as the Blues ultimately ran out 4–1 winners at Villa Park on Wednesday night. The idea came from the players, and I really like it because they're showing unity and togetherness and spirit, and I think you need that. "Before anything — before you start talking about tactics or systems — you need a group of players willing to run and fight for each other. "They're a good group, they're a tight group, they enjoy each other's company, and that's half the battle."

Source: BBC March 05, 2026 15:19 UTC