Chelsea

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a strange and difficult couple of years to be a Chelsea fan - and it has been even more challenging to write about the club in that period.

There is an understandable desire for more positive coverage of what is going on at Stamford Bridge, but the fanbase has long been divided into those determined to see the best in the new era under the new ownership and those who consider it a travesty.

But even the supporters who vehemently insisted that this painful period was a necessary evil are starting to question their stance now.

The idea that everything is going to plan is hard to defend, especially now it has become clear that even those at the very top of the ownership do not believe it.

The claim that there is a bigger picture and a grand strategy, which mere mortals on the ground cannot fully comprehend, is proving ridiculous. We now know for sure that those steering the ship are fighting over the rudder.

When doubts are cast over the competence of those in charge, one has usually been pointed in the direction of their vast piles of cash and their success in other areas as a riposte.

But, as some people have pointed out since the start of this whole affair, not all skills are transferable. In fact, the belief that you know better than everybody else is a major disadvantage, particularly when it encourages you to sit down and bet the house on a game you do not yet fully understand.

Even if Chelsea do end up restored to their former glory in years to come, the notion that everything has gone to plan - and even that the plan was a good one - has already been dismantled.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

New York Times journalist Rory Smith has called Chelsea's current ownership situation "extremely strange", amid reports that the club's co-owners are looking buy each other out after a rift formed at board level.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Smith said: "Todd Boehly thinks that Clearlake are a little bit too quick to act and are maybe a little bit obsessive over trading players. Clearlake feel that those allegations aren't true and they would maybe like to remove Boehly from the equation entirely.

"The whole thing is extremely strange. Everything that has happened with Chelsea, from the point that Todd Boehly and Clearlake took over, is really odd.

"They have got all these players on long contracts. They keep signing players, even when it's obvious they have too many.

"They have loaned Raheem Sterling to Arsenal and are paying him to play for one of their rivals. Then they just signed Jadon Sancho on loan and it was really hard to work out why.

"It's like they are saying to players: 'Just come here. There is probably a spot in the gym you can use - you'll be alright. There is a peg you can use - you'll be OK' - so it is really hard to assume anyone at Chelsea knows what they are doing."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Leicester City defender Conor Coady says Enzo Maresca is the "ultimate head coach" but believes the current situation at Chelsea won't be "ideal" for the Italian manager.

Coady worked with Maresca during the Foxes' 2023-24 Championship winning campaign.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Coady said: "Knowing Enzo from last year and the hands-on approach he brings to any football club, he is the ultimate head coach.

"He does absolutely everything on the pitch. He does everything with his squad. So the fact that he has loads of players - and I know he has come out in the past and said he is only working with 21 or 22 of those players - I can't imagine that is ideal for him.

"The big thing for me is just the supporters. They won't know whether they are coming or going. They don't know what is going on at Chelsea one day to the next.

"If I was in that dressing room, of course I would be talking about it. You are asking questions in terms of what is going on and why are we signing all of these players.

"I would want to know what's happening with one of my mates who has been kicked out of the dressing room and is having to train on his own.

"It just doesn't feel right, does it?"

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Chelsea are hoping to offload 21-year-old Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana to Greek club AEK Athens - the transfer window in Greece is open until Wednesday. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Tensions between the owners at Chelsea may raise major question marks on the club's ability to do business in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is set to be confirmed as the new USA manager after a meeting with US soccer chiefs. (Mail), external

Sporting and Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres is unlikely to move in the January window, despite interest from Chelsea and Arsenal, as he is settled in Portugal. (Football Insider), external

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel tried to convince Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen to join the Blues, before his summer loan switch from Napoli to Galatasaray. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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No club in European football has spent more on transfers than Chelsea since 2015.

That's according to data delivered by the highly-respected CIES Football Observatory., external

In its monthly report, the organisation says the Blues have spent 2.78bn euros since 2015 - around £2.35bn. Manchester City are second on the list, on 1.96bn euros, with Manchester United third on 1.95bn euros (around £1.65bn).

The figures form part of a spending-heavy culture in the Premier League. England's top flight has committed over 23bn euros (£19.42bn) to transfers since 2014, with Italy's Serie A second on 10.84bn euros (£9.1bn).

The Premier League's net spend is over 11.5bn euros - around £9.7bn, a stark contrast to Portugal's Primeira Liga, which has made a net profit of over 2.34bn euros since 2015.

Drilling into the data more, Manchester United have made a net spend in every year across the 10-year period. Benfica, by contrast have made a net profit in nine of the 10 seasons on transfers. United's consistent buying means they are the club with the biggest net spend in Europe since 2015 as Chelsea have recouped over half of their spend through player sales.

In its report, the CIES says: "From a club point of view, Chelsea stands out clearly with €2.78 billion invested on transfer fees over the last decade, 42% more than the second biggest spenders: Manchester City and Manchester United. The latter club has the most negative net transfer spending (€1.30 billion), while SL Benfica has the most positive one (+€816 million)."

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Chelsea had a net spend of £46.5m.

Image source, AP

Canada striker Jonathan David, who was linked with Chelsea this summer, has said he held talks with a "couple of teams" but chose to stay at Lille. The 24-year-old added he is now discussing extending his contract beyond next summer with the French club. (Athletic), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for Chelsea.

The correct answer is John Terry, with the Blues' former captain playing 492 times for the Blues in the competition.

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Chelsea defender Levi Colwill says he and Wesley Fofana "complement each other really well" and are close on and off the pitch.

The pair have been Enzo Maresca's starting centre-back partnership in all three of our Premier League matches so far.

"Fofana's a really good player and I really enjoy playing with him," said Colwill to the Blues' club website, external. "He’s so aggressive and I think we complement each other really well.

"Behind the scenes he’s such a great lad. I get on really well with him and I think everyone in the team gets on really well with him.

"We’ve created loads of chances by building from the back. You can see the way the gaffer wants us to play and there's definitely loads of positives to take. We are building. We've only had a few games with the new gaffer, but it's really exciting.

"All the players are excited for it and I think the fans should be too."

Who has made the most Premier League appearances for Chelsea?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

The joy and despair of football.

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Just the despair.

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Some things you wait for.

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And others never take long to arrive.

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There are awkward moments.

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There are planned moments.

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Chaotic moments.

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Sometimes there are moments of genius.

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And, occasionally, the moment just calls for romance.

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We asked you for your views on how Chelsea have started the season - and where you thought they might finish.

Almost half of all respondents believe the Blues will finish between 6th-10th and your comments suggest supporters are split on the current state of the club.

Here's a snapshot:

Amer: Enzo Maresca oozing authority in press conferences, and being honest? That's all good. Lack of finishing against Crystal Palace? Not so good. An OK start though should see us kick on into the top four by the end of the season. There is no doubt we have the talent in the squad to do so.

John: We are headed for yet another season of mediocrity. No club has the right to compete. However, with the money at the clubs disposal, we should be. A terrible transfer policy from owners who apparently won't learn or listen spells the end of 20+ years of competing at the top.

Shappers: With yet another unnecessary summer of turmoil, it feels like the beginning of last season. Chelsea will be inconsistent until next year when hopefully they’ll put a good run together. Before ripping it up and starting again next season.

Phil: Was initially concerned about the manager having a single tactic and not changing. We are still learning but at times we look really good. Attacking we have quality and should score. Defensive pairing is getting stronger so hopefully will tighten up. Midfield needs to be resolved with Enzo Fernandez the weak link.

Richard: Chelsea will draw or lose too many games that they should win, chiefly due to poor execution in the final third of the pitch. After five games in total, there has been just one good performance, at Wolves. Chelsea might not finish in the top six of the Premier League this season and still require a reliable goalscorer.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca gave his players the day off after facing Crystal Palace but this week will be like another pre-season for those left at Cobham.

The Italian has said he feels his players are ahead of where he expected them to be at this stage of the season as he imparts his extensive tactical ideas which involve detailed patterns of play, possession hoarding and a defensive approach where cutting out counter-attacks is the key.

Although ahead of schedule, there is plenty of work to do after two wins, a draw and two defeats in the first five matches highlighted issues.

New signing Jadon Sancho is among those training at Cobham and has arrived in good shape and will be working alongside Marcus Bettinelli, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Cesare Casadei, Marcu Guiu and Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea have played well in the league but not the Conference League which shows that those on the fringes are not adapting as quickly to Maresca as the regular starters.

Also, the Blues will hope to have all of Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto back at the end of the break for the trip to Bournemouth when the Premier League restarts.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea chief executive Chris Jurasek has left Stamford Bridge after just over one year in the post.

Jurasek, who oversaw the business side of the club, was unpopular with some members of Chelsea’s fan groups over price rises and will initially be replaced internally by chief operating officer Jason Gannon.

He had already replaced former president of business Tom Glick who lasted less than a year in west London, with Jurasek becoming chief executive in May 2023 after moving from Clearlake Capital, the private equity firm with majority ownership of the club.

Part of the role including oversight of liaison with supporters, ticketing, sponsorships and, increasingly, the stadium redevelopment project alongside Gannon.

It is unclear whether a new chief executive will come in but, if they did, it would be the third such figure to run the business operation in three seasons under the Boehly/Clearlake ownership.

A host of other senior executives hold significant sway behind the scenes including chief revenue officer Casper Stylsvig, head of business operations James Murray and head of legal James Bonnington.

Todd Kline will join from Tottenham once he completes his gardening leave alongside former Manchester United employee Phil Lynch to complete Chelsea's new management committee.

The football side of the operation will continue to be run by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, alongside hands-on input from co-owner Behdad Eghbali.

In a statement, fan group Chelsea Supporters' Trust said: "This is a positive change that the club should use to rebuild the trust and confidence of supporters."

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Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has said it will be a proud moment for his family if the 22-year-old makes his senior international debut in one of England's upcoming Nations League matches against Republic of Ireland and Finland.

Madueke moved to PSV Eindhoven as a teenager and began his senior career in the Netherlands before joining Chelsea in January 2023.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "My mum and my dad have been an amazing support system all through my career. My mum came out with me to Holland - I was with my little sister as well - that probably made it easier for me to adjust.

"And my dad has been there as well, always giving me advice, always supporting me. I couldn't thank them enough."

Asked what the best advice his father had given him, Madueke said: "Work as hard as you can at the things you don't like to do on the pitch, and then you don't have to worry about the things you are good at because they will just come out naturally.

"I think that is great advice."

Listen to the full interview in Thursday's episode of Football Daily on BBC Sounds

The dust has settled on the transfer window, the Premier League is well and truly back, and we are into the first international break of 2024-25.

So we want you to predict where Chelsea will finish in the Premier League this season - thinking about the start to the campaign and summer transfer business.

Submit your prediction here

And also, please tell us what is the one thing - good or bad - you have learned about the Blues so far in the campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Chelsea are open to sending 27-year-old England left-back Ben Chilwell on loan to Turkey, although they are yet to receive any offers. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between Chelsea and AEK Athens over the transfer of 21-year-old Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's newest recruit Jadon Sancho says he is "really excited" to get going at an "iconic" club, after joining Enzo Maresca's side on a season-long loan.

Speaking in his first club interview, external, Sancho said: "I'm really excited. London is where I grew up, so I'm happy to be back. It has been a bit crazy - it was the last day of the transfer window, so it was expected to be a bit crazy, but I'm happy it has finally been done.

"Chelsea is iconic. My idols growing up were Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. Now I have the opportunity to play for this club, it is a great feeling."

On what drew him to Chelsea, Sancho added: "I think it was the manager really. I knew him from when I was at Manchester City, when he was with Pep [Guardiola]. He spoke to me on the phone about his project and what he is building here and, for a young player like myself, it is exciting.

"I think it is his style of play [that attracted me]. When the wingers get on the ball, he just loves them to go one vs one and be direct. They play a lot of one-twos with the 10s and the striker, so lots of combination plays.

"So that was all very attractive, especially with the style that I play."

On what the supporters can expect from him this season: "Well, hopefully goals and assists. I'm a skilful player and hopefully I can bring some excitement to Stamford Bridge.

"I want to be playing the best games at the top level, so I'm motivated to carry on and I can't wait. I definitely want to do that at Chelsea, 100%."