Rosenior slams referee after bizarre gate-crashing of Chelsea's pre-match huddle

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/summary/stats/?mid=juf03THP"]Newcastle won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 14 years[/a] as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a]'s 18th-minute strike punished sloppy [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] defending.[/p][p][b]But the focus after the game was on the curious incident before kick-off when Tierney stood in the centre of a circle of Chelsea players as Blues captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-reece/nLBC7ERa/"]Reece James[/a] spoke to his team.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rosenior-liam/4fMAHvLm/"]Rosenior[/a] said he will contact PGMOL, the referees' body, to seek clarity on why Chelsea's pre-game ritual was disrupted.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] were due to kick off, and Tierney was standing next to the ball near the centre spot, seemingly refusing to move as the home team congregated around him.[/p][embed guid="52126903-1f88-4779-b239-e07d56be0bb6" url="https://x.com/StokeyyG2/status/2032879544508542980" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I want to protect my players,"[/b] said Rosenior after fifth-placed Chelsea's top four bid suffered a major blow.[/p][p][b]"I'm respectful to the game. My players made a decision that they wanted to be around the ball, to respect the ball and show unity and leadership.[/b][/p][p][b]"That is not my decision. That is 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."[/b][/p][p]It has become a ritual under Rosenior for Chelsea players to gather in the centre circle before kick-off.[/p][embed guid="21a9eaae-77cb-4204-a048-f0392926ad1a" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2032902019803943357" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rosenior has previously said the initiative came from the players, and it has already provoked controversy, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] fans booing his side before their recent 4-1 win at Villa Park.[/p][p]Rosenior has also accused [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a]'s coaching staff of disrespecting his team by encroaching into Chelsea's half during their warm-up at the Emirates Stadium in January.[/p][p][b]"Do you know what's amazing?"[/b] said Rosenior. [b]"Before the game, we had a meeting with the referee. My assistant goes in. The first thing he talks about is our huddle.[/b][/p][p][b]"He said about when I complained about Arsenal being in our half. It wasn't the (Arsenal) goalkeeper coach that was in our half, and people who were at that game at Arsenal know why I said what I said."[/b][/p][p]Rosenior took another swipe at Tierney by claiming Chelsea should have had a penalty when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] went down under a challenge from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/woltemade-nick/4YDUd1at/"]Nick Woltemade[/a] in the second half.[/p][p][b]"If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we'd have a penalty today," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"I don't think anyone can say that Woltemade doesn't kick Cole Palmer down in the box.[/b][/p][p]"I didn't speak to Paul today. I didn't think it was the right thing. But I'll be speaking to PGMOL. I'll be speaking to the refs. Just trying to get an understanding of what happened."[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/england/premier-league/"]Follow the Premier League with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]