TalkSPORT presenter Jim White has revealed that Chelsea’s owners defended the dressing-up they gave players after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
As previously reported by Mail Sport, Todd Boehly told the Chelsea stars their season was ’embarrassing’, giving a speech following Frank Lampard’s post-match team talk, which left one player ‘disillusioned’ after being ‘picked’.
Lampard, who has suffered three consecutive defeats since returning to Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager, must now try to boost morale ahead of tonight’s decisive Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
As well as expressing his disappointment with Chelsea’s season, Boehly sought to lift Lampard’s players ahead of their quarter-final second leg, in which the Blues must make up a 2-0 deficit.
White had questioned on talkSPORT whether it was the right move by Boehly to question players – before revealing that someone from Chelsea had contacted him to explain their position.
Todd Boehly dressing down Chelsea players after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton
Boehly would single out a ‘senior’ Chelsea player who has been left ‘disillusioned’
Responding to talkSPORT criticism, an unnamed Chelsea member has replied that they are asking the players to fight for the club’s supporters.
The talkSPORT host said: ‘A short while ago I won’t mention the name, but I can say it’s owned by Chelsea and I’ll paraphrase it.
“I asked if it’s fair or unfair for the owner to stand in the dressing room afterwards and have a dialogue with the players when things aren’t going well?
“The message tells me, ‘I don’t know if it’s fair or unfair, but all we ask is that the players fight for the fans who invest money, time and energy in the players. We want to win on and off the pitch “. ‘
With Chelsea 11th in the Premier League after exiting the third round in both domestic cups, the Champions League represents their last chance to salvage the campaign.
Boehly, who was the subject of irate fans in the stands at Stamford Bridge after the Blues were beaten by Roberto De Zerbi’s side, told his dearly collected side that their form is embarrassing alongside other home truths.
The Guardian claims that Boehly, who was in the dressing room with fellow board members Behdad Eghbali and Hansjörg Wyss, “picked” one player for specific criticism.
Their report claims the player, now believed to be disillusioned and dissatisfied, is “senior” and has “signed for a high fee in the past 12 months.”
Among the big sums Chelsea made in the Boehly era, they have included Enzo Fernandez (£107m), Mykhailo Mudryk (£88.5m), Wesley Fofana (£75m), Marc Cucurella (£60m), Raheem Sterling (£47.5m), Benoit Badiashile (£35m) and Kalidou Koulibaly (£33m).
Boehly himself was the subject of anger from Chelsea fans in the defeat to Brighton
Frank Lampard is tasked with lifting Chelsea for their quarter-final clash with Real Madrid
The report further claimed that the player in question was “a disgruntled figure in training” as a result of Boehly’s dressing-up, with Frank Lampard’s side preparing for a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
Lampard said of Boehly’s visit: ‘I feel comfortable with that. I had my say after the game.
“There may have been some criticism of our old owner that he didn’t come to matches and that wasn’t always true.
“I remember moments as an owners player entering the dressing rooms for the first time, I remember being happy. I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
Real Madrid has a 2-0 lead in the second leg of the quarterfinals
Chelsea languishes in 11th place and looks set to miss out on Europe next season
“I had my things to say, if an owner wants to come in and be positive and talk to the players, they can. No problem, it radiates passion and that’s the first thing I like.’
In Boehly’s first year at the club, Chelsea spent a lot of money on the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Wesley Fofana, but the team have benefited little from being 35 points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Blues have spent more than £600 million but are currently languishing in 11th place and look set to miss out on European football next season altogether.