Chelsea will be stripped down, but can the club build itself back up?

Roman Abramovich sent shockwaves through the world of football just prior to Chelsea’s kickoff against Luton Town on Wednesday evening. The club’s owner announced in an official statement through the club’s website that he planned to put the club up for sale during this difficult time. Abramovich stated it was his belief this was the best decision for the Blues’ community right now. The oligarch has been faced with the possibility of heavy economic sanctions from the UK government in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Similar to Abramovich’s statement regarding stewardship and care of the club being passed on that he made last weekend, this announcement raised a lot more questions than it answered. Chelsea fans are set to witness a transfer of power at the top of their club for the first time since 2003. It goes without saying the Blues are a much bigger deal in present day than they were in the early parts of the 21st century. Chelsea will be stripped down in the months to come, but can the club build itself back up and remain successful during this transitional period?

Can Chelsea build itself back up and stay successful even after being sold?

The fact that nobody can give a definitive answer to that query is terrifying in and of itself. Change is a scary thing and this is a massive transformation that is taking place. The Blues now sit atop the European football throne as the UEFA Champions League holders. While they may not be the biggest club on the continent, they certainly aren’t far off the top. Abramovich’s decision on who to sell the team to is one of the most impactful choices in the 117-year history of Chelsea FC.

Early reports suggest that both Director Marina Granovskaia and Chairman Bruce Buck will also depart the club following the official sale in the future. This would be a massive blow to the boardroom as there will be a complete shake-up at the top for the first time in over two decades.

The former is especially important to the Blues’ success day-to-day as she has overseen football operations since Technical Director Michael Emenalo left in 2017. Granovskaia has established herself as one of football’s greatest and most stubborn negotiators in the process. While she’s helped build Chelsea into the footballing juggernaut it is today, she’s also been key to helping Abramovich turn the club into a sustainable and successful business.

The Blues are still in an excellent position to remain successful, despite the upcoming complete remodeling of the boardroom. Thomas Tuchel’s established himself as one of football’s best managers during his time in west London. He’s already won three trophies with the club (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup) and made two other finals (FA Cup and Carabao Cup). The German has the Blues currently sitting third in the Premier League, as well as into the FA Cup quarterfinals and with one leg in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Ironically enough, one could suggest Tuchel and his staff are even more secure in their posts with Abramovich’s imminent exit. The Russian built a reputation for demanding success during his 19 years as owner, hiring and firing managers more than almost any other club in Europe’s top five leagues. That’s not to say the new owner won’t hold his coaches to the same standards, it’s just unlikely that Tuchel is to be replaced any time soon given all he’s achieved in 14 his months. Therefore, the Blues are in safe hands with one of European football’s finest managerial minds.

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Elsewhere, the team will be left in a position to succeed, as well. There’s no telling when the sale will go through but it’ll presumably be before the summer transfer window. Regardless, the Blues have the makings of an elite squad within their ranks as things stand. There is a healthy blend of splendid youth prospects and world class veterans. A few simple ins and outs of Tuchel’s liking and this team can surely compete with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City on a domestic level.

In conclusion, Chelsea will survive and even thrive, despite the fact that the club will be stripped bare with the hierarchy’s wholesale changes. The pairing of Abramovich and Granovskaia will be a heavy loss to suffer given they’re two of the best in their respective roles in world football. However, that doesn’t automatically mean their successor(s) will be as bad at their job(s) as the likes of Mike Ashley and Stan Kroenke. As much as Blues supporters love him, Abramovich hasn’t been the only good owner in world football during the last two decades.

The same goes for Granovskaia. Chelsea fans are used to their club doing things in their own unique way, but the Granovskaia style is not the only way to do business. There would be a plethora of quality technical directors across Europe who would drop to their knees begging to join this wonderful club should the opportunity arise, no matter the owner.

The saving grace and the reason I believe the Blues will be able to maintain their high standards through this massive overhaul is Tuchel. Chelsea has a solid foundation of talented players such as Mason Mount, Reece James and Romelu Lukaku, and a manager who is capable of getting the absolute best out of them on any given day. The blessing is that any new owners coming in don’t have to do too much in their first transfer window—should it be this summer.

Abramovich and Co. are saying their goodbyes to the club they’ve led for the better part of two decades now, but the core they’ve built around at Stamford Bridge is more than capable of holding its own for the foreseeable future. Tuchel and his staff have done more than enough to justify a lengthy stint at the wheel. It will now be the responsibility of whoever purchases the Blues to elevate them further and keep Chelsea sitting pretty in the upper echelons of European football.

What do you think, Chelsea fans, can the Blues maintain their level of success even after Abramovich sells the club? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!