• June 30, 2022
• coachila

Before everything else, Roman Abramovich sought and prioritized the success and growth of Chelsea Football Club, even to the point of forfeiting 1.6 billion dollars in expenses that he could call in as a loan. Had Abramovich chosen to call in the funds he put into Chelsea as a loan, the Club could’ve been forced into financial administration. He decided otherwise. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that Roman Abramovich’s commitment to Chelsea is unrivaled by any other football club owner globally. 

However, while it is true that Abramovich’s Chelsea legacy is unbeatable, or at the very least hard to beat; his reign at the club wasn’t without faults. This means that as much as most Chelsea fans would want the new owners to be like the Russian oligarch – if that is even possible – there are areas Todd Boehly & Group must differ for the club to become better. Here are two things Todd Boehly & Group must differ in, to make the Blues better:

Forcing players (of non-compatible profiles) on the manager

On several occasions Chelsea has signed players that do not fit the manager’s preferred approach to football, often referred to as “board signings.” These players are usually acquired without adequately considering how they’d fit into the team but rather their popularity or appeal to Abramovich. A prime example of this is Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, who proved to be a £97.5 million mistake, and is rumored to have been the choice of Roman Abramovich or his son and not the manager. 

After Lukaku’s return to Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel’s efforts to integrate him into his team was everything but seamless. It was so chaotic that it caused division among Chelsea fans, pundits, and even managers. Managers, pundits, and sections of the Chelsea fan base called for a change in the Club’s style of play to accommodate Lukaku, while others did not think it necessary. In response, Tuchel vowed not to compromise the team’s identity to solve Lukaku’s problems while arguing that the former Everton striker’s issues at Chelsea are better solved by adapting himself to the team’s style. 

The new owner. Todd Boehly & Group must not interfere with the Club’s recruitment process to avoid repeating costly mistakes. 

Not Giving Managers Enough Time To Build On Progress

In 2020, Chelsea emerged as the most successful English club of the decade. However, that feat is a product of patches of success, as there has never been a period where Chelsea dominated English or European football. Why? Well, dominance in football cannot be achieved without continuity, at least from a managerial perspective. 

Chelsea notably dismissed two world-class managers in Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, notwithstanding that they each had a successful season the previous year. Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea won a double and was free-scoring, in fact breaking the then-record for most goals scored by a Premier League club in a single season (103). Yet, Ancelotti lost his job the following season. Jose Mourinho is Chelsea’s most successful manager. Mourinho has titles to boast of in both of his stints at Chelsea, yet he lost his job in controversial circumstances in both stints. 

This is without even mentioning Antonio Conte, whom some fans would argue was dismissed unjustly. Ancelotti and Mourinho both demonstrated that they are both capable of helping Chelsea achieve sustained success and dominance. However, they were dismissed despite their managerial and tactical ingenuity. These dismissals limited the chances of the club achieving sustained success and dominance domestically, continentally, and globally. 

Conclusion

Todd Boehly’s interviews and actions since his group emerged as the new owners of Chelsea give great hope for changes in the right direction. Hopefully, the changes to come at Chelsea under the reign of Boehly & Group will address long-standing issues that have hindered the club progress, including and most especially, forcing players of non-compatible profiles on the manager and not giving managers time to build on their success.