Liam Rosenior feels ‘lucky’ to call on players such as Alejandro Garnacho

Liam Rosenior said he is “lucky” after substitute Alejandro Garnacho struck twice to keep Chelsea’s Carabao Cup hopes alive despite a 3-2 opening-leg semi-final defeat to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea looked down and out in the tie when Ben White headed home a corner after just seven minutes before Viktor Gyokeres ended his 10-match drought from open play to double the visitors’ advantage shortly after the interval.

Garnacho was introduced by Rosenior on 53 minutes and halved Chelsea’s deficit just four minutes later. Martin Zubimendi extended Arsenal’s lead back to two when he struck on 71 minutes.

But Garnacho netted from a corner with seven minutes left to ensure Chelsea remain in the contest ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium on February 3.

And Rosenior, in just his second match in charge and first at Stamford Bridge, said of his decision to introduce Garnacho: “I am lucky. A coach is only as good as his players.

“I am never happy to lose a game of football but I saw an energy, a determination and an intensity. I want us to be known as a team that will never give up, that will run, that will fight and that will press. And I saw that today.

“I am not asking for time because we are good enough to win now but I need to put my stamp on the team otherwise there is no point me being here. There is a fine balance, and hopefully the fans will see progression but we need to win at the same time, too.”

Rosenior said he expects Cole Palmer and Reece James, both absent on Wednesday, will be able to return from injury in Chelsea’s next match against Brentford on Saturday. He also revealed that Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens were forced to withdraw from the first leg with a virus.

Rosenior added: “Jamie Gittens