Chelsea owners facing fresh criticism as Strasbourg boss takes aim at recruitment
Chelsea and Strasbourg fans protested against the BlueCo group that owns the two clubs last month (AFP/Getty)
Strasbourg manager Gary O’Neil has strongly criticised BlueCo, the joint owners of both Strasbourg and Chelsea, accusing them of mismanaging recruitment and questioning the overall culture within the organisation.
O’Neil stated that the January transfer window weakened his squad, citing the loaning out of striker David Datro Fofana and defender Aaron Anselmino from Chelsea, and the recall of Mamadou Sarr to west London, alongside Kendry Paez’s re-loan to River Plate.
His remarks echo widespread discontent among Chelsea supporters, who have voiced similar concerns regarding recruitment, managerial instability, and a perceived lack of clear direction under the same consortium, with Chelsea currently ninth in the Premier League.
Fans of both clubs united in a joint protest against BlueCo, led by Behdad Eghbali’s Clearlake Capital and investor Todd Boehly, outside Stamford Bridge in April, highlighting shared frustrations.
Following a 1-1 draw with Angers on Sunday, O’Neil expressed anger at his team’s performance and emphasised the need for significant improvements in player quality, squad depth, and club culture, stating: “We messed up in the January transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the squad.”
