Their upcoming fixture this Saturday against AS Monaco holds significant weight. A victory for sixth-placed Strasbourg at the Stade Louis II would see them draw level on points with second-placed Monaco, a testament to their dramatic improvement under Rosenior's leadership.
The stakes are high in Ligue 1, with the top three teams automatically qualifying for the Champions League group stage, while the fourth-placed side enters the qualifying rounds. However, Strasbourg's aspirations are complicated by their ownership structure. The club is owned by BlueCo, the holding company that also owns English Premier League giants Chelsea. This shared ownership raises concerns about a potential breach of UEFA's regulations on multi-club ownership in its competitions, which are designed to protect the integrity of European football.
Despite this looming administrative hurdle, the atmosphere within the Strasbourg camp is one of growing belief. "I’ve felt for a while that this group has something (special)," Rosenior confidently stated this week, acknowledging the collective effort and burgeoning talent within his squad.
Strasbourg's impressive form has been built on a solid foundation at both ends of the pitch. Their attack is spearheaded by the talented Dutch striker Emanuel Emegha, who has netted an impressive 13 league goals this season. He is ably supported by Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who has contributed nine goals from midfield, showcasing the team's attacking dynamism. Equally crucial has been their defensive solidity, with the team managing to keep six clean sheets in their last nine league outings, including a remarkable run of five consecutive shutouts.
However, their upcoming clash against Monaco will provide a stern test for Strasbourg's goalkeeper, Đorđe Petrović. Monaco's attack, which is also finishing the season strongly, will look to exploit any weaknesses. Notably, Mika Biereth has been in sensational form for Monaco, scoring 12 goals in just 12 appearances, with a particularly impressive record at home where he has already bagged three hat-tricks. He has formed a potent attacking trio alongside experienced Swiss striker Breel Embolo and Japan international Takumi Minamino. Adding to Monaco's attacking threat is midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, who has provided eight assists this season, placing him joint-second in the league behind only Bradley Barcola.
Despite the formidable challenge posed by Monaco, Rosenior remains confident in his team's approach. "We know Monaco is a team which likes to play. We’re keeping the same course, we’re not changing anything," he affirmed. He also highlighted Strasbourg's impressive resilience in 2025, noting that the team "has lost only one (league) match in 2025," a statistic that speaks volumes about their consistency and improvement.
The success of this season marks a remarkable achievement for the 40-year-old Rosenior, who is in his first full season in charge of a top-flight European club. Rosenior himself had a respectable playing career in England, featuring as a defender for Premier League clubs Fulham, Reading, and Hull City. Football runs in his family, with his father Leroy Rosenior being a well-known striker who played for Fulham and West Ham in the 1980s.
Rosenior's coaching journey began three years ago with a brief spell at English club Derby County, followed by a more substantial stint in charge of Hull City. His impressive work at Hull saw him nominated for the manager of the year award in England’s second-tier Championship last season.
Few pundits anticipated such a strong showing from Strasbourg under Rosenior, especially considering the limited time he had to prepare with his squad before the season began. "Preseason preparation was short, some players arrived late," Rosenior explained. "We never really had all the players together."
The elephant in the room remains the ownership ties between Strasbourg and Chelsea. UEFA's rules are designed to safeguard the integrity of its competitions by preventing situations where two clubs with the same owner could potentially influence each other's results or have an unfair advantage.
Currently, Chelsea are also in contention for Champions League qualification, sitting sixth in the Premier League, where the top five teams are likely to secure a place in the competition. This scenario raises the distinct possibility of both Chelsea and Strasbourg qualifying for either the Champions League or the second-tier Europa League in the same season.
In similar recent cases involving multi-club ownership, UEFA has typically required the owners to take steps to ensure the independence of the clubs for the duration of the season. This has often involved placing one of the clubs under a blind trust and restricting cooperation between the clubs on matters such as player transfers and the sharing of tactical information. The exact measures UEFA might take in the case of Chelsea and Strasbourg remain to be seen but will undoubtedly be a point of significant discussion if both teams continue on their current trajectory.
Looking beyond Strasbourg's Champions League pursuit, another intriguing Ligue 1 fixture this weekend sees local rivals Saint-Etienne and Lyon clash. This derby match will feature a fascinating encounter between two Georgian international teammates who are both in good form. Saint-Etienne's Zuriko Davitashvili has been a standout performer for his struggling side, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists. Meanwhile, the dynamic Georges Mikautadze has been a key player for Lyon, netting nine goals and setting up five. While Saint-Etienne's defense has been leaky, conceding a significant 67 goals, their attack, spearheaded by Davitashvili and supported by Lucas Stassin and the skillful Irvin Cardona, who scored twice in their recent 3-3 draw against Brest, remains a potent threat. Speaking about their relegation battle, Cardona emphasized the need for collective effort, stating, "We’ll need everyone for this battle until the end."
In conclusion, Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg are defying expectations and mounting a serious challenge for a Champions League spot, showcasing impressive form and tactical acumen. However, their shared ownership with Chelsea presents a potential hurdle that could impact their participation in European competitions. As they prepare for their crucial match against Monaco, the football world will be watching to see if Rosenior can continue his remarkable first season in France and navigate the complexities of Strasbourg's ownership situation.