‘There’s a lot we’ve learned… the fans are demanding’: Under-fire Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly breaks cover to claim ‘we’re going to fix it’ in Beverly Hills – admitting he a ‘conductor’ as a manager
Todd Boehly has urged Chelsea fans to keep the faith and insist that ownership will ‘work it out’ after a disastrous campaign that saw them finish 12th in the Premier League.
The co-owner of the Blues spoke out about his first 12 months at Chelsea at Beverley Hills in conversation with Milken Institute president Michael Milken.
Chelsea are winless in their last nine games in all competitions, a run that stretches back almost two months, and they will end the season with no silverware and no Champions League qualification.
But while Boehly understands the ‘demanding’ nature of the fans, he believes better times are ahead for Chelsea.
“The fans are demanding,” Boehly said.
Todd Boehly confronted Chelsea’s dismal season head-on at a conference in Beverly Hills
Mykhaylo Mudryk (left) and Raheem Sterling (right) arrived as part of a £600 million team overhaul
“You know they want to win and we get that we want to win, so you know, I think our view was that this is a long-term project and you know we’re committed to the long-term.
‘We firmly believe that we will work it out.’
He added: “We have the best league in the world, we have what I think is the best city in the world and we have an incredible location in the best city in the world.”
Boehly was speaking just days after Chelsea were humiliated in a 3-1 defeat to London rivals Arsenal.
Fans in the ground could be heard chanting for former owner Roman Abramovich, and interim boss Frank Lampard gave a scathing assessment of the off-field problems afterwards.
“Winning is just the best feeling there is,” Boehly continued, pointing to his success with the LA Dodgers.
‘You have to build a team and of course the coach is the conductor of the team. So I think we’ve learned a lot.’
That conductor is likely to be former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who remains in talks to take the position in the summer.
But having already spent £50 million sacking Thomas Tuchel and hiring – and later firing – Graham Potter, Boehly’s next appointment as manager should be a success.
“In the time I’ve been here, it’s clear to see why behind the scenes, on the training pitch [things are going wrong],” said interim boss Lampard this week.
“If you want to be a fun team to play against all the time, it doesn’t matter where you go. That won’t change overnight, but we’d better be quick.
‘The passive character of our game can be attributed to many things. The players certainly care.
“They have little confidence, but when you play for Chelsea you have to play a certain way, even if you have little confidence.
“Whatever it is, it might not even matter because the only thing you’ll get out of it is understanding and hard work.
“For years the gap was the other way around.”
Chelsea have sacked both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter since the start of the season
Boehly (left) admitted it was a learning experience, but he believes it will be figured out
Fans were heard singing for former owner Roman Abramovich (right) on Tuesday, with whom Chelsea enjoyed huge success, winning several Champions League titles in that period
Boehly has invested heavily and has yet to see the tangible success he envisioned when he bought the club with Clearlake Capital.
But the American billionaire is confident the slate will be clean next season and he pointed to his success with the Dodgers in making them one of the most attractive teams to watch in Major League Baseball.
Chelsea fans are already looking forward to the end of this season with a trip to Bournemouth this weekend, followed by Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge.
Lampard has not won since taking interim charge and will try to apprehend that attacker on the south coast.