Chelsea owners promise brighter future as hopes rest on new manager Pochettino

FOOTBALL Chelsea owners promise brighter future as hopes rest on new manager Pochettino

Abigael Wafula 15:35 - 08.06.2023

Chelsea's 12th-place finish was their worst since 1994 despite a spend of more than Ksh 86,725,776,000 ($624 million) on new players.

Chelsea owners have insisted on staying positive despite having a disastrous season for the Premier League club and are banking on their new manager Mauricio Pochettino to salvage the club come next season.

The association, led by American businessman Todd Boehly and US-based Clearlake Capital has endured a horrible first year in charge, sacking managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter before a miserable end to the campaign under interim boss Frank Lampard.

Chelsea's 12th-place finish was their worst since 1994 despite a spend of more than Ksh 86,725,776,000 ($624 million) on new players in the new owners' first two transfer windows.

Former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino was hired last week with the task of reviving the troubled club, who won the Champions League under Tuchel just two years ago.

"It's been just over a year since we completed our purchase of Chelsea. It was and remains a privilege for us to be custodians of our wonderful club.

Our promise to you was to make our fans proud. We remain completely committed to the long-term and sustainable success of our club and fulfilling that promise we made to you,” the owners said in an open letter published on Thursday, June 8 as reported by AFP.

They noted that they are aware of the huge potential that lies in the club and they promised to work around the clock to ensure they develop the club. “Everybody working here is relentlessly focused on driving us forward," they said.

The owners admitted that it had been a "disappointing" season for the men's team, who failed to win a trophy for only the second time since 2016, saying there was a lot to be worked on.

They added: "For all the challenges of the past year, we are optimistic about the future."

The owners praised the women's team, who won a fourth straight Women's Super League title.

"Our women's team has celebrated another astonishing season, winning the double with an unprecedented fourth successive WSL title and third successive FA Cup.

There are not enough positive things to say about (manager) Emma Hayes, her backroom staff, and squad who have dealt with adversity, injury, and Emma's period of absence,” they said.

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