Chelsea played some miserable football over the course of the 2022/23 season. Todd Boehly and his team invested heavily in the squad and made some wholesale changes to the club. However, things went as south as they could and nothing seemed to work out. The fans were disheartened with performances and managers kept going and coming. As the season progressed, there were almost no signs of improvement despite the fact that Boehly brought in reinforcements in the winter window. However, despite the large number of negatives, Boehly did do a few things right at the club last season. Here’s a look at three things that Boehly did right.
Chelsea investment in young talent
Todd Boehly and his team’s transfer strategy at Chelsea has been questioned over the course of the season. The team struggled to succeed on the pitch despite the fresh influx of talent. Most big-money signings struggled to find their place in the starting eleven and failed to make a mark. Despite the public outrage, what has gone unnoticed is the fact that Boehly and his team have identified some of the most exciting young footballers around the world and secured their services.
Andrey Santos captained Brazil in the U20 World Cup, scoring two goals and assisting one. Similarly, Cesar Casadei was the captain of the Italian team and led them to the final of the tournament. Scoring seven goals and assisting another two, Casadei won the Adidas Golden Boot Award. On top of that, the 20-year-old was awarded the Golden Ball award, making him the tournament’s best player. The Italian’s talent means that Boehly’s team has a solid option in midfield, and he has a high chance of being part of Pochetino squad next season. On the other hand, Gabriel Slonina captained the USA team and conceded only two goals in five games, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
It is enticing to see new signings leave their mark at the U20 World Cup, and it is a reminder to the world of the kind of talent the club has on its books. Poch will give these players a chance in the preseason and decide if they can be integrated into the first team next season.
Other names like David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Omari Hutchinson are also huge talents. Although the club could have handled their development properly last season, they will all get chances in the preseason to prove their worth. Latest signing Kendry Paez also reached a milestone as he became the youngest scorer in the tournament’s history. He ended up scoring one goal and assisting two for Ecuador in the tournament.
It is clear that Boehly and his team have identified some of the most exciting young talents out there. They have invested heavily in these players and made a bet for the future. With the right development path, they can feature for the Blues for years to come, and this is definitely of the big positives of the new regime.
Proper hierarchy
When Todd Boehly and his consortium took over the club, they slowly removed all staff that had worked in the Roman Abramovich era and brought in new faces. A number of executives were recruited from other clubs into the club hierarchy as part of a restructuring.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley were recruited from Brighton & Hove Albion in executive roles, and now they are serving as co-sporting directors. These two are directly responsible for all football operations, including critical areas like transfers and recruitment strategy. Similarly, Christopher Vivell has been recruited to be the technical director, and he is focused on the global approach as Chelsea looks to enter a multi-club model. Other names like Joe Shields, co-director of recruitment and talent, and Jim Fraser, head of youth development, will focus on their particular areas and enhance the processes.
The introduction of this hierarchy will ensure a more inclusive culture at the club. It will also ensure a more analytical approach as all voices will be heard in any decision, and there will be a proper process and hierarchy to take the call. This is expected to inculcate a collaborative atmosphere in the club.
The new board faces an uphill battle this summer as they aim to sell a number of players for low prices as well. On top of that, they must reduce the size of the squad and decide the future of some key young players through loans or sales. Players like Conor Gallagher may have bidders in the market, and the board must make tough calls.
New wage structure and contract strategy
The new owners have introduced a new wage structure in which contracts rely heavily on bonuses. Many new contracts have bonuses linked to Champions League qualification and performances. This means that the wages fluctuate depending on the club’s participation in European football and performances throughout the season. It is reported that the players with new contracts are set for a decrease of at least 30% of their wages. It is important to note that the previous regime focused on rewarding players for winning trophies. The wage structure was much more rigid, and the wage bill had been increasing continuously.
Moreover, Chelsea has been signing players on lengthy contracts and setting a new trend in the Premier League. Players like Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Mykhailo Mudryk have signed agreements that will see them remain at Stamford Bridge for at least seven years. The length of the deals indicates a shift in approach where the board is looking to tie down players to long contracts. This strategy will help the club balance their books and help with financial fair play as well. The board has taken a risk with this approach as a Drinkwater-like situation may arise, and players can look to run down their contracts. On the other hand, the contract length allows the board control over future sales and gives them a strong negotiating hand in any discussions.