Chelsea proving their project is doomed to fail regardless of manager
For the last 18 months, Chelsea Football Club have lurched from one crisis to another.
Usually, they've been an institution built to withstand disasters, but that mystique and invincibility has been lifted since Roman Abramovich was forced out of the club.
Todd Boehly and BlueCo took control in 2022 but they have managed to take Chelsea backwards to the point where you wouldn't be foolish for wondering if this was an act of self-sabotage.
A chaotic summer prior to the 2022/23 season — in which Boehly appointed himself as interim sporting director — was quickly followed by the sacking of Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel.
That was understandable. New owners want a new coach. A typical sporting tale, particularly among Americans like Boehly.
Graham Potter was the man they turned to. Again, hardly controversial. He'd built solid foundations at Brighton before leading them to a club-high ninth-placed finish in his final full season. It wasn't in-keeping with Chelsea's usual managerial recruitment strategy, but it was a step seemingly worth the risk.
After a fast start, Potter was unable to pick up and rally his troops in the face of adversity, the first sign that this was a job slightly too big for him.
The January transfer window only added more ingredients to Chelsea's Eton Blue mess. They needless won a bidding war with Arsenal for Mykhailo Mudryk. They paid Enzo Fernandez's £105m release clause. Reports came out that the squad was so big, some senior players would have to get changed in the corridors of the club's Cobham base.
Potter was sacked in April, replaced by Bruno Saltor and then Frank Lampard until the end of the season. Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed as the new head coach for the 2023/24 season.
Signs
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