- Chelsea legend Leboeuf has taken ownership of the club amid controversy
- Mauricio Pochettino’s side are languishing in fourteenth place after a slow start
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Frank Leboeuf has declared he is ‘disgusted’ with Chelsea and fears Todd Boehly will ‘kill the club’ as they languish in mid-table.
The Stamford Bridge legend is not happy with the way his former club have started the season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Despite more than £1 billion of investment in players since American owner Boehly took charge last year, the Blues sit 14th in the Premier League, having won just one of their first six games.
There was some respite on Wednesday evening as Chelsea beat Brighton 1-0 to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, setting up a home game against Championship club Blackburn.
But former defender Leboeuf has taken aim at the way Chelsea are managed, saying it is hampering their prospects of attracting the best players in the world.
Chelsea struggled in the opening weeks of the season, winning just one of their first six Premier League games and slipping to fourteenth place.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has spent more than £1 billion on new players since taking over
Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf says he is ‘disgusted’ by the way Chelsea have been rejected
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“Let’s be realistic: Chelsea are a mid-table club,” he said CasinosEnLigne.com.
‘Attracting players will be difficult and players like (Kylian) Mbappe will not want to come. The big players want to play in the Champions League.
‘Arsenal had that problem for years, just like Manchester United. Top players are not coming to Chelsea because the club has collapsed.
‘It’s incredible what the club has become, just two years after their Champions League triumph. I’m disgusted.
“I have nothing against Todd Boehly, but they need to change things quickly or they will kill the club.
‘I would say the people responsible for recruitment are most to blame. It is fine to give young players long contracts if they are committed to it, but the board has forgotten to balance the team.
‘The backbone of the team, apart from (Thiago) Silva, is very young and there is not much experience. Even Enzo Fernandez looks very young despite knowing the game inside and out.”
Leboeuf added: “I don’t see the leadership, and that’s the biggest problem. The recruiting team didn’t think of that and I think everyone is responsible.
Mauricio Pochettino has failed to improve Chelsea’s fortunes immediately after his arrival
Leboeuf believes Chelsea should try to take advantage of Victor Osimhen’s problems at Napoli
“Boehly approved the deals and Pochettino is in charge. If I were asked to manage Chelsea, even I would say no!
“The lack of leadership is an irreversible problem – and I don’t know how they can solve it.”
Leboeuf, 55, suggested Chelsea should take advantage of Victor Osimhen’s troubles at Napoli to sign the Nigerian ace in January.
He added: ‘Chelsea also need help in midfield, someone like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric. They may be older and not play as many games, but they could certainly serve the club well.”