Chelsea delivered a timely gift to their supporters by beating Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. The result leaves them in control of their own destiny at the end of the season.
With just one more game to go (away to Nottingham Forest), Chelsea know that a win will almost certainly secure them a place in the top five and therefore the Champions League. After another up and down campaign, it is exactly what the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership group need.
They have come under fire from fans and the media for their running of the club since taking over nearly three years ago. Chelsea are yet to return to the top table of European football but are now closing in on that after Marc Cucurella’s goal was enough to edge past the worst United side in Premier League history.
It puts Chelsea on the brink of what could be considered a successful season with the Conference League final to be played later this month. On the men’s side, there is little room for error, though, as slipping up in the next two matches could change the picture entirely.
Speaking out in the match programme ahead of the United game, a quartet of senior figures at Chelsea wrote: “As we welcome you to the Stamford Bridge today for one last time in the 2024/25 season, there is still plenty to play for with both our men’s and women’s teams soon to compete in cup finals.”
Coming from Jason Gannon (president and chief operating officer), Aki Mandhar (Chelsea Women’s chief executive officer), and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, it is a rare communication publicly from those in charge.
“Manchester United are the opponents then as well as this evening, and both games are of huge importance,” a statement reads, touching on Sunday’s FA Cup final for women at Wembley Stadium. “With two league matches remaining of the campaign, we are in contention to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League which is where this fantastic club belongs.
“We can assure you that everyone at Chelsea Football Club is working tirelessly to ensure we carry on progressing and improving, season after season.”
The transfer strategy under Clearlake-Boehly has been widely panned since the takeover over from Roman Abramovich. With a recruitment drive aimed at buying young players, focusing on potential and development rather than immediate world class quality, the returns have been a long way from those of the past two decades.
Defending the approach and explaining the club’s aims, the directors write: “This group continues to grow together. We invested in highly talented players with bright futures to establish a sustainable team, while continuing to align the Academy and first team to allow talented youngsters the best opportunities to make that step up.
“For the second year running, a club record-equalling eight academy players made debuts this season with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George inducted into the first team. We have seen many players grow and develop this year.”
Having committed over £1.5billion to new players already, many have asked why league returns of 12th, sixth, and fourth (still liable to change) have followed rather than a more sustained push towards the top of the table. Picking out the most expensive signing so far (and the league record holder), the directors add: “Moises Caicedo collected both the Player of the Season awards at the recent ceremony we shared with some of you here today.”
The Ecuadorian has been one of the success stories since moving from Brighton in 2023. Cole Palmer is the other standout, whilst Nicolas Jackson at £30million has provided some key moments, as has the other £100million+ midfield man Enzo Fernandez.
It hasn’t just been players changing and costing Chelsea plenty of money, though. Since Clearlake-Boehly arrived at SW6 there have been four permanent managers, three of them hired by the American-led consortium. Enzo Maresca looks set to go past Mauricio Pochettino’s 12 months in charge as he is almost certain to enter a second full season in charge.
The former Leicester City boss had his fair share of vocal doubters this season as well but has the backing of Stewart and Winstanley as well as Clearlake-Boehly, who put their necks on the line to hire him in a surprise move in the first place. He “and his squad are seeking to add a new trophy to the Chelsea collection and we know many of our supporters are keen to re-establish the valid claim of having ‘won it all’ with victory at the end of our first UEFA Conference League campaign,” the directors say. “It would be a great way to mark the club’s 120 years.”
Maresca remains someone with split support from the fanbase despite being on the verge of a strong debut campaign. Whether he achieves that or not will be down to 180 minutes (or so) of football in the next two weeks. The directors will be hoping that their plans are fully rewarded.
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