Chelsea owners face moment of reckoning amid fan backlash
Chelsea 's most recent accounts showed a £262m Premier League-record pre-tax loss and Uefa continues to monitor the club under a settlement agreement from last summer that will regulate spending on players. It is against that backdrop that BlueCo - the holding company owned by Todd Boehly and his allies, along with majority investor Clearlake - are on trial with supporters. At the thick end is Not A Project CFC, a fringe but growing fan movement who are calling for major change - and have announced two further protests.
One will take place on Wembley Way before the FA Cup final against Manchester City , and the other urges fans to turn their backs in the 22nd minute (representing the year 2022 when BlueCo bought Chelsea from sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich) of their final home game against Tottenham . It is a movement figures inside Chelsea have tried to quell, including director Danny Finkelstein, after a conversation with supporters was leaked in which he said it was "obvious" the Blues were building one of the best teams in the world. While the picture may seem bleak for Chelsea , who are ninth in the league with just three matches left, with a cup final to come is the situation still salvageable for BlueCo?
Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi (centre) talking to Chelsea recruiters Paul Winstanley (left) and Sam Jewell at Stamford Bridge Hosting Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi in Chelsea 's directors' box on Monday, ostensibly to scout his future opponents, went down poorly with sections of the fanbase. De Zerbi has a long‑standing relationship with Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell from their time at Brighton , but Chelsea fans want to see their London rivals relegated - particularly with the prospect of inflicting damage themselves in a league match at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight. It was just one of the missteps that have compounded poor results, leaving fans feeling misunderstood and ignored.
Since the Abramovich era, almost every player, senior executive and most behind-the-scenes football staff in the men's team have been replaced. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea 's second head coach under BlueCo, told The Overlap podcast he left the club because they didn't match his "vision". He highlighted how the Blues prefer to look at data rather than human connection and "emotion".
His replacement Enzo Maresca initially bought into that vision, but did not fully win over match-going supporters, despite claiming the Conference League and Club World Cup, and qualifying for the Champions League with a young squad in his only full season. He ultimately departed after a dispute encompassing transfers, his salary and what was perceived as medical department meddling in his use of players. Chelsea 's next permanent boss Liam Rosenior placed importance on culture and building a relationship with supporters, but lost the dressing room before his vision could be fully implemented.