Todd Bohely set to listen to Roman Abramovich statement after poor start as Chelsea owner
One year on it is a statement that still makes for startling reading.
Later that evening the first team faced Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round, a game that passed by as a blur for almost anyone in blue even if they edged an entertaining five-goal tie. There was so much uncertainty, and more to follow when Abramovich was officially sanctioned by the UK government a week later and the club’s mere existence was under threat, that progressing to the quarter-finals was effectively a distraction.
Instead the focus was on coming to terms with the fact the club was about to be turned upside down.
For almost two decades Chelsea had a clear identity that was cherished by their fans and, well, hated by most others. But for all the controversy, framed by the transfer investment of the early years and a ruthless sack ‘em approach to managers, at least everyone knew what to expect.
Then everything changed. “In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners,” Abramovich said in the statement.
Less than a month earlier Abramovich had stood on the pitch at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi with the Club World Cup in his hands.
The statement ended with Abramovich saying “I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person.” A large contingent of Chelsea fans may still adore him – and his name has been chanted during games as recently as January – but there appears no prospect of that happening for an individual still under government sanctions.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s co-owner, Todd Boehly, has told the supporters of the club to be patient, promising that they will ‘figure it out’.
Chelsea have been on a dismal run of form which has seen them slip down to 12th in the table
The American owners have spent more than £600million in two transfer windows but the results have not started coming.
Under the current owners, two managers have lost their jobs: Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter with Frank Lampard now in charge on an interim basis.
Speaking at the Milken Institue’s Global Conference, Boehly said: “Each one of those markets is different. You’ve got the Portuguese market, the French market, the English market.
“The ability to go to these markets and you have to build a team and your coach is the conductor of the team.
“The fans are demanding and they want to win, we get that. We want to win.
“Our view is that this is a long-term project and we’re committed to the long term. We very much believe we are going to figure it out.”