Chelsea: In destruction - 7M sport

Chelsea: In destruction

Abramovich's distance, coaching changes and Hazard's 'absence'


Posted Saturday, February 23, 2019 by Marca.com

Chelsea: In destruction

The sanctions dished out by FIFA to Chelsea on Friday will mean that the club won't be able to sign anyone for two transfer windows, though they will appeal in the hope of being able to make signings this summer.

It is the latest and strongest indication yet of the club's questionable management which is only taking the club towards a downwards spiral.

The club's sporting future is in question and every day the team looks further away from the Premier League leaders, playing Manchester City in the League Cup final on Sunday in a complicated situation.

Seven years after winning the Champions League, Roman Abramovich's club is showing signs of the end, starting with their owner who has moved to Tel Aviv after complications with his British visa, making him a ghost president.

This uncertainty has reached the day to day operations of the squad and coaches, who find themselves without a point of contact, as much as Marina Granovskaia tries to become closer to the team.

So strong is the disconnection, that there are rumours of a sale, with the new Stamford Bridge project put on hold.

The owner is listening to offers, reportedly requesting 2.5 billion euros, though he won't sell to just anyone, and after the judgement from FIFA, he is worth even less.

Emenalo's exit

The departure of Michael Emenalo, sporting director between 2007 and 2017 left the club's sporting structure in ruins.

Having been the reference point for signings, squad planning and more, particularly for players looking to solve day to day issues.

The Nigerian left and Granovskaia has struggled to fill his shoes, particularly with the club's owner two thousand kilometres away.

Emenalo, now at Monaco, could be blame for the FIFA sanction but his policy was clear: to sign anyone that moved, as proven by the club's 41 loanees who are distributed across the globe with many unsure if they will ever don the Chelsea shirt.

Maurizio Sarri arrived last summer with the mission of forgetting the chaos of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte's reigns, but unless he lifts the Carabao Cup or Europa League, he will be deemed to have failed to have provided the antidote that was required.

He has been unable to calm the group or provide stability, with a substitute already being sought, Zinedine Zidane being among the suggestions.

The FIFA punishment could complicate matters, whether it is the Frenchmen or another coach of such quality, despite the signing of Christian Pulisic for 65 million euros in January for the summer.

Mourinho, Conte, Sarri...

Mourinho clashed with everyone, including Abramovich, whilst Conte was isolated and ended last season as his final one, going to Cobham each day without being able to train the team.

Sarri agreed to join, but Abramovich was reluctant to pay 10 million euros for him, leading to unbelievable scenes at the club's training ground.

The Russian wanted calm, which he hasn't found with Sarri and a squad, taking steps backward and a star player, Eden Hazard, who sees his future more complicated every day amid links to Real Madrid.

After a six goal thrashing to Manchester City and 15 points off the top of the Premier League, prospects are bleak for the Blues.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.