Chelsea owner Bruko has faced further criticism after Gary O’Neill accused Ligue 1 side Strasbourg of recruiting as a “mess” and questioned the club’s culture.
The former Wolves and Bournemouth coach took over in January after Liam Rosenior left for Stamford Bridge and has overseen two semi-final defeats as the club pulled out of the Coupe de France and the Conference League last month.
The criticism of the club’s management is strikingly similar to the questions raised about Chelsea’s current situation, with Blues reinforcements, management instability and a lack of overall direction among the multiple causes of supporters’ anger.
Chelsea sacked Rosenior in April after just three months and are currently ninth in the Premier League, without a win in the league since March 4.
Ahead of the Blues’ defeat to Manchester United in April, fans of both clubs gathered outside Stamford Bridge in a joint protest against Blueco, a consortium led by Behdad Egbali’s Clearlake Capital and investor Todd Boley.
Strasbourg have won six of their 14 league games under O’Neill, but defeats over two legs against Nice and Rayo Vallecano in April ended their hopes of winning a silver medal and their last chance to qualify for Europe next season.
The manager believes that the additions made in the January transfer window have weakened the squad rather than strengthened it.
Striker David Datolo Fofana and defender Aaron Anselmino are on loan from Chelsea, while the influential Mamadou Sarr has been recalled to west London after spending the first half of the season on loan from Stamford Bridge.
Ecuadorian international Kendry Paes also had his season-long loan terminated by Chelsea and was immediately loaned back to Argentina’s River Plate.
“We need two centre-forwards,” O’Neill said after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Angers, L’Equipe reported.
“The owners want to give me the tools to perform next season, but we need to improve the culture around the club, the quality of our players and the depth of our squad.
“We made a huge mistake in the January transfer window. Instead of improving the team, we weakened it.”
Chelsea’s latest manager: Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola
Of course, the next right decision for Bruco is finding Chelsea’s next permanent manager, but Callum MacFarlane is not expected to be handed the role on a full-time basis.
Fabrizio Romano shared an update on his YouTube channel this week, confirming rumors that both Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola are under consideration.
Interestingly, he also revealed that the Bournemouth manager is rejecting offers from other parts of Europe in the hope of landing a big job in the Premier League.
“He (Iraola) has rejected offers from abroad because he wants to remain in the Premier League. He wants to be a Premier League manager next season.”
“Andoni Iraola will therefore be ready and ready to get another chance following Bournemouth in the Premier League next season.”
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso has reportedly already communicated his plans to move to Chelsea, so check out the details here.
Xabi Alonso: Negotiations are ‘progressing well’, explains Chelsea transfer priorities
This was revealed by the former Real Madrid coach.
