After a dozen or so games as interim manager at Derby County, Liam Rosenior got his first proper job as a football manager when he was appointed Hull City boss in November 2022. He had spent his prime years at Hull as a player back in the 2010s, so it was a lovely little homecoming story. Over the next nearly two seasons, he took the Tigers to the brink of the Championship playoffs, falling just one place shy in 2024. They sacked him for that, then almost got relegated the following season. Hah!
Their loss was BlueCo’s gain, with Rosenior going to Strasbourg and then, a little over a month ago, coming to Chelsea to pick up the pieces after Enzo Maresca’s messy exit. And he’s picked them up quite well indeed, despite the frustration and disappointment of the 2-2 draw against Leeds United earlier this week. He’s not put them back together to form a coherent picture just yet, but akin to starting a jigsaw puzzle, I suppose he might have the border done already.
I’d imagine he’ll get a nice welcome when he returns in charge the Blues tonight; then perhaps a slightly less warm reception at the end should he guide his new team to victory and a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
Date / Time: Friday, February 13, 2026, 19.45 GMT; 2:45pm EST; 1:15am IST (next day)
Venue: MKM Stadium, Hull
Referee: Farai Hallam (no VAR)
Forecast: Breezy but the rain might stop by then
On TV: BBC One (UK); ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (USA); Sony TEN 2 (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: BBC iPlayer (UK); ESPN+ (USA); Sony LIV (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Hull City team news: Smarter offseason decisions have turned things around for the Tigers after their near-relegation last year, and new head coach Sergej Jakirović has them sitting all the way up in fourth position.
The former Dinamo Zagreb manager was said to favor an “exciting and attacking philosophy” when hired — unlike the apparently more pragmatic Rosenior, who was let go precisely for not being able to meet those demands from the club owner. Sure enough, Hull are the fourth highest scoring team in the division … while also conceding more than most. In fact, only Southampton have conceded more in the upper half of the Championship table.
Another two summer arrivals, Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt are both among the leading goalscorers in the division; you might have un-fond memories of both, with McBurnie scoring twice against us for Sheffield United — including in that most horrendous 3-0 defeat during Project Restart — and Gelhardt, a Leeds United loanee, scoring his first career Premier League goal against us a few years ago (at least we’d win that one, dramatically, 3-2). He’s barely scored since, at least until this season.
Recent departures from the club include no less than three former Chelsea prospects, with Xavier Simons transfering to Bolton Wanderers in the summer and both Mason Burstow and Kasey Palmer going out on loan, the latter just a few weeks ago, during the January transfer window.
Jakirović admitted that he may opt to rest some of his key players with their focus firmly on promotion, including key center back Charlie Hughes, who’s dealing with a groin problem.
“We will have to be smart. If anyone is 50/50, it’s better to use this week to get healthy because some players have played three in a row at 70 per cent. […] We’re struggling in some positions especially, but we will see.”
“Maybe Charlie Hughes [is out]. He has problem with his groin. He’s played almost three weeks like this and is struggling a lot, so I maybe decide it’s better to skip this game. […] I must be careful and see what is better for the team.”
-Sergej Jakirović; source: Hull City AFC
Chelsea team news: Likewise, Rosenior may decide to utilize his squad to its full extent, even if the second- and third-choice players have largely struggled to impress when handed opportunities recently. But given the pressures of the Premier League top-five race, not to mention the Champions League knockout rounds coming up, this may be our last best chance to rest and rotate (especially with a rare full week before out next game).
Injuries and fitness concerns may of course prevent any such plans, though the likes of Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, and even Roméo Lavia may be available for selection. Marc Cucurella was also spotted in training, though he’s already been ruled out with the hamstring problem that forced him off at half-time against Leeds United on Tuesday. Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, and Dário Essugo remain out as well while the status of backup goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen remains a mystery. Academy grad Teddy Sharman-Lowe has been serving as the backup, ahead of Gaga Slonina, in the last couple weeks.
Previously: This is our third straight meeting with Hull City in the FA Cup; we won 2-1 away in 2020 (fourth round) and 4-0 at home in 2018 (fifth round). We’d reach the final in both of those seasons, winning it in 2018 (still our last domestic trophy). Overall, we’ve won our last eight against the Tigers, in all competitions; in fact, we’ve only ever lost to them once in our history (35 total meetings), back in 1988.
