Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali pledges shift to ready-made transfers
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has pledged to sign experienced players and admitted Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure disrupted their campaign during a rare conference address in Los Angeles.
The Blues are currently struggling for form under new head coach Liam Rosenior.
They sit four points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool and are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
A dismal run of just one victory in seven league matches has severely derailed their domestic progress.
Targeting immediate quality
Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports, the Clearlake Capital co-founder addressed the club’s youth-focused recruitment model.
He insisted the overarching project remains in its early stages but acknowledged a pressing need for immediate quality in the transfer market.
“We’ve got to be better on a few things, to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take it to the next level, to be consistent over time,” Eghbali stated.
“The view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world’s best players, and ultimately the view was you need eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably.”
The managerial transition
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy have faced heavy scrutiny since Maresca unexpectedly left his post on New Year’s Day.
Rosenior was brought in to stabilise the squad, but the mid-season transition has proven incredibly challenging.
“It’s not a change we wanted to make,” Eghbali admitted regarding the Italian’s exit.
“It’s a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel, and it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.”
Salvaging the campaign
Despite their recent league struggles, the west London side still have an opportunity to secure silverware.
An upcoming FA Cup semi-final offers a crucial lifeline in an otherwise turbulent calendar year.
“We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final coming up,” Eghbali added.
“In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you’ve got to fight back, you’ve got to stand up and fight, and it’s going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.”
