A lot has been written and debated in recent weeks about the decisions made by Todd Boehly and those within Chelsea's new ownership group. Much of it has been tinged with hubristic scepticism. Much of it has been unfair and somewhat unsavoury.
Few have access to Boehly. Even fewer have the chance to discuss football with the U.S billionaire. Yet Chelsea legend Joe Cole had that opportunity in the summer as he spent a week in Los Angeles alongside the men's first-team squad, who undertook a pre-season training camp at UCLA.
A boyhood Chelsea supporter, Cole was enthused by his conversations with owners Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano and impressed by their vision for the club. "Bold. Progressive. Brave. And they have a clear plan that I think has taken a lot of people by surprise," Cole tells football.london when asked about his early impressions.
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"It doesn’t seem like a hedge fund buying a club and it’s all about the bottom line. It doesn’t seem like that kind of model. They want to be involved, are passionate, and they want to be successful. They are learning and constantly asking questions. They bring a lot of wisdom to the table and a lot of business acumen. But they are humble enough to listen, learn, and understand Chelsea."
Supporters have their doubts. That is only natural. Change is never easy and after 19 years of Roman Abramovich's ownership, many had become accustomed to unbridled and unrivalled success under a constantly rotating cast of elite head coaches.
The Boehly/Clearlake approach and long-term vision are very different. Stability is desired throughout the club, even if it takes a period of instability to get there. It's why Thomas Tuchel – the brilliant tactical mind who guided Chelsea to an unexpected Champions League triumph in 2021 – was replaced last month by Graham Potter.
Cole appreciates the decision to hire Potter, whose previous jobs were at Ostersunds in Sweden, Swansea City in Wales and Brighton in England, was a departure from the norm at Chelsea. But it's one he believes highlights the outlook of the new ownership.
“Thomas Tuchel will forever be remembered at the club as a legend because of what he achieved in his time," Cole says. "But that era is gone and they've gone completely in another direction in terms of a manager who is a builder, a communicator, a collaborator. He suits what they want to do. They want to be involved in the process and use all their collective wisdom. That is the road they’re taking. But it was a brave decision.
“Bringing Graham Potter in, I don’t think anyone would’ve foreseen that when Thomas Tuchel departed. Chelsea traditionally would’ve tried to get a Luis Enrique or some big-name manager who has managed at a top club. But there is something different happening. So you’ve got to strap in and get ready for the ride."
Potter has overseen two matches as Chelsea head coach thus far: a 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League and a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League. And aside from the tactical tweaks made, what has stood out is how differently he handles himself on the touchline compared with Tuchel.
The German was a ball of energy in his technical area; a coach capable of offering enthusiastic praise to players but also forceful criticism. Potter is far more measured and approachable – and that extends off the pitch. Since his appointment, meetings have taken place with first-team players and discussions held about their roles in the squad.
It's a more gentle style of man-management and one Cole experienced working under Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge. However, the former England international insists that quiet leadership is often underpinned by challenging experiences.
“Graham Potter is in this job because he’s risen to every challenge he’s had in his career. He’s done it the hard way," Cole explains. "Sometimes, people mistake kindness for weakness but Graham Potter is a strong character, you can tell that from the journey he’s been on. He will have had knock-backs left right and centre, but he’s come through them. So he’s a strong character and he’ll need that strength managing Chelsea.
“His style of management comes out in how his teams play. He has a lot of challenges but I am sure he has been preparing for this ever since he decided he wanted to be a coach. For me, this is the pinnacle. He is at a top club in Europe with a team capable of winning the Champions League. It doesn’t get much better than that for a young manager."
Cole adds: “Football is not a tickling contest; it can be a brutal business. You have to be tough, you have to be able to take setbacks, you have to be able to listen to someone say 'that’s not good enough' and take it on the chin. Carlo was more than capable of delivering those types of messages and I’m sure Graham Potter is as well.
"Carlo arrived with a huge playing career and managerial career and he will go down as one of the greats – if not the greatest manager of all time. He is certainly in that conversation. Graham Potter is at the start of his journey but he has a chance now and I’m rooting for him. Not only because he is at Chelsea but as an English coach, I really want him to do well.”
Watch Chelsea v AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League exclusively live on BT Sport 2 from 7pm on Wednesday 5th October. For more info, visit btsport.com
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