Have they ever thought the problem might be them? Obviously not, of course, because that might take a level of self-awareness or humility and the capacity to acknowledge the failings at Chelsea start at the top. But for Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and the rest of Clearlake Capital consortium, the big numbers extend beyond the £1bn infamously – and often unwisely – spent on players. The first game of next season, barely two years into their reign, will see a sixth man lead Chelsea: after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentinian mustered the best win percentage in the era of chaos. He left two days after his fifth straight victory. He ranks as the most successful of Boehly and co’s three appointments; although as Potter and Lampard were different kinds of disaster, that isn’t saying much. If that scarcely inspires much confidence in their ability to get the next choice right and the underlying sense as manager after manager has collected his pay-off is that the owners think they are doing their job, only to be let down by the men in the dugout. Can the next incumbent be confident he will fare any better?
