More than 700 million euros threw Chelsea through windows and doors to become a European superpower again under new owner Todd Boehly. But as it turns out: sporting successes are not for sale. The story of the Stamford Bridge crisis that led to an unexpected reunion with the “failed” Frank Lampard.
“The hardest job in football,” Graham Potter called his role when he became manager of Chelsea in September.
The journalists present secretly laughed up their sleeves. With the infinite budget that the club has at its disposal, every coach could sleep soundly, right?
But it was precisely that shower of notes that killed predecessor Thomas Tuchel.
Todd Boehly, new owner since the summer, threw 300 million euros out the window for Fofana, Cucurella and Sterling, hoping for immediate sporting success.
It would not turn out to be the last time that the American opened his wallet wide.
No, even in Potter’s first months, Chelsea did not become the sparkling football team Boehly dreamed of.
So the latter gave his coach a chance to build “his” team and the modest Englishman entered the transfer market with a lot of pocket money.
The result of the shopping spree? Again more than 300 million over the counter for eight shiny puzzle pieces that Potter had to put in place.
Yet it was not a gift for the brand new T1, who was immediately thrown to the lions.
Graham Potter groaned under the pressure of his first assignment at a top club. He couldn’t use his experience to get a dressing room bulging with young newcomers in order.
That quickly translated into lousy football and mediocre results.
Plenty of money, lack of football knowledge
You can’t buy sporting successes. That hard lesson has been learned by Todd Boehly.
After he pays Potter’s severance payment of 15 million euros, he is left without a trainer and a concrete plan for the rest of the season. And again his pockets feel lighter.
According to the English press, entirely his own fault. “He has a glaring lack of football knowledge,” it says about the Channel. With the blueprint of baseball and basketball, Boehly does not seem to be able to run a football club.
Also an alleged one crashcursus football that followed the American when he took over is not paying off. “He even asked Tuchel to play with a 4-4-3 formation,” says The Athletic.
Calling Kevin De Bruyne “a youth product of Chelsea” at a conference in New York does not help his tarnished image in the least.
Todd Boehly must have imagined ownership of Chelsea differently.
Meanwhile sinks Chelsea’s way to the belly of the standings in the Premier League. It is in the right column – as 11th – in a gray season.
And yet the Champions League can still bring some color. There, The Blues face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, final victory is their only chance at European football.
All the more reason to quickly provide a revival in the club.
Boehly does this by calling Chelsea’s ex. Frank Lampard, former player and coach, must act as an interim pope. That while the board is trying to convince Luis Enrique or Julian Nagelsmann (with money?) to take over next summer.
We want to give our club and fans a stable plan for the rest of the season, while we look for a permanent solution for next season. “Frank is the right man to guide us to the finish.”
And so begins the toughest job in football for Frank Lampard with moves to Wolverhampton and Madrid.
