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Chelsea are marking their first year without Roman Abromovich. The new incumbent has put his money where his mouth was, spending €555 million in transfer fees including add-ons. However, it has not gone according to the plans, struggling in 12-place and are being directed by their third manager.
Todd Boehly’s first full year will see the Blues out of the Champions League. Moreover, for the first time since the turn of the millennium, Chelsea will not feature in the top half of the Premier League points table.
These are dire times at the Stamford Bridge but Cesc Fabregas remains hopeful about the current plan. The Spaniard was part of the team that struggled in the 2015/16 campaign and finished in 10th place. They regrouped under Antonio Conte and won the Premier League the following season.
Chelsea can get back to winning ways
Fabregas pointed at the reversal of fortunes and believes the same can happen next campaign. To realize this, the players and manager need to be on the same page. Conte shared his plans with them before taking over and the next incumbent will have to do the same.
"Six years ago, we finished tenth. We won the Premier League a year later… I lived it, it's doable." 💭
Cesc Fabregas offers hope to Chelsea fans 🤞 pic.twitter.com/69YaByZ6hy
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 2, 2023
Clarity of process is the need of the hour. But more important than that, Fabregas believes it will be ‘doable’ if the Blues can bring someone who has the experience and can guide the club in the right direction.
“Six years ago we had a really bad season with Chelsea, we finished tenth. Jose Mourinho left, Guus Hiddink came and he started to play younger players to give them experience for the next year. In April they signed Conte, who came to the training ground and spoke to us individually.
“Planned what he wanted to do with us so we could start fresh in the following season and we won the Premier League – against Guardiola, against Klopp, against Mourinho – it is not impossible. This happened six years ago, I was there, I lived it. If you bring someone in, with the experience, with the character who can put everyone together, who can give clear ideas – it is doable.”
Chelsea have been linked with former Tottenham and PSG manager, Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine will reportedly take over from the struggling Frank Lampard, whose contract runs out in the summer.
Pochettino’s tactical nous saw him lead Tottenham to a Champions League final despite failing to add to his ranks in successive transfer windows. With the Blues dressing room bursting with potential and 36 players, he has his work cut out.
Players need to be held accountable
A first-half blitz by Arsenal saw the Blues’ winless run extend to nine matches across all competitions. They have lost their last six competitive fixtures with Lampard’s arrival in the dugout doing nothing to help their cause.
Fabregas spent five years in West London and believes this is their worst run of form since he arrived from Barcelona in the summer of 2014. He pointed his fingers at the players, who should turn their fortunes around but admitted there off the field work needs work as well.
“It’s the worst run since I’ve been at the club. We’re the ones playing on the pitch and we have to turn this around. It’s hard for everybody and we have to come through these moments. Off the pitch we have a lot of things to work on.”
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