In a rare public address, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has broken his silence on the club's turbulent season, offering a staunch defense of under-pressure head coach Liam Rosenior while acknowledging a significant shift in the club's much-debated transfer strategy.
Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles, Eghbali conceded that the mid-season departure of former manager Enzo Maresca was an unwelcome disruption that has impacted the campaign. "It's not a change we wanted to make," Eghbali stated, as reported by 90min. "It's a change that had a bit of a negative impact... and it's one we've got to fight our way out of."
"We're Behind Liam"
Despite a run of just one win in seven Premier League games, leaving Chelsea four points adrift of the Champions League places, Eghbali threw his full support behind Rosenior. The co-owner emphasized the club's long-term view of the former assistant, whom they had worked with for over 18 months before his appointment.
"We think he has every attribute to be successful here," Eghbali said. "He got off to a great start. We've had a tough past five, six matches, but I think we're behind Liam. Of course, it's a results business, but we think he can be successful long term."
Transfer Policy Evolution
In perhaps the most significant admission, Eghbali signaled a notable evolution in Chelsea's recruitment philosophy. After years of focusing almost exclusively on signing young talent with high potential resale value, the owner promised a move towards more experienced, "ready-made" players to accelerate the project.
"We've got to be better... to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take it to the next level, to be consistent over time," he explained, while still stressing the long-term goal of building a core of elite players.
Club Status: 7th in Premier League, 4 pts off 5th
Form: 1 win in last 7 league games
Next Up: FA Cup Semi-Final & 6 PL matches remain
Owner's Stance: "We're committed. We've got to win."
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea's ownership has publicly endorsed Liam Rosenior despite a poor recent run of form.
- The club admits Enzo Maresca's mid-season departure was damaging and against their preferred policy.
- A major shift in transfer strategy is confirmed, with a new focus on signing "ready-made" experienced players to complement youth.
- Ownership acknowledges fan discontent but reiterates a commitment to returning Chelsea to trophy-winning consistency.
Eghbali's comments come amid planned fan protests before Saturday's crucial home match against Manchester United. He directly addressed the discontent, insisting the ownership's ultimate goal aligns with the supporters'. "Can this be successful without winning? The answer is no. We've got to win," he asserted, referencing the standards set during the Roman Abramovich era. "You've got to win trophies, and you've got to win consistently again."
With an FA Cup semi-final and six critical Premier League games remaining, Eghbali framed the season's finale as a character test for his squad. "When you get punched in the face, you've got to fight back... And it's going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad."