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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

Disruptive owners, managerial questions and financial concerns: Chelsea are a $1bn mess

Chelsea players Conor Gallagher (left) and Moisés Caicedo (right) have struggled, while Todd Boehly seems to have disappeared from view.
Chelsea players Conor Gallagher (left) and Moisés Caicedo (right) have struggled, while Todd Boehly seems to have disappeared from view. Composite: Guardian Picture Desk

You don’t see much of Todd Boehly these days. In the first weeks after he fronted the Clearlake takeover of Chelsea, he was a regular presence, telling European football what it could learn from US sport, proudly announcing his disruptive intent. Which is a shame: it would be good to know exactly where spending $1bn to transform a Champions League-winning side into one that sits 11th in the Premier League fits into his master plan.

There had been a thought around the turn of the year that things might be falling into place for Chelsea. They reached the Carabao Cup final and won three league games in a row to haul themselves into the top half of the table. Maybe Mauricio Pochettino was at last starting to find some order amid a chaotic squad. The last two games have obliterated that idea.

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