Chelsea’s striker mistake has cost them – supporters demand “more respect” after gaffe | OneFootball

Strasbourg president Marc Keller has done a really interesting interview with the Daily Telegraph today where he explains a little about the Emanuel Emegha deal to join Chelsea from Strasbourg.

Keller says the French club were struggling to hold on to him, and needed to guarantee him an exit to keep him happy for this year.

Strasbourg forced to accept future deal for striker

“It was a major issue. The only way to keep him was to say, ‘You will go in one year’. He was ready to do that, and to be captain and a big leader for us in Europe [they are one of the favourites in the Europa Conference League].”

But Alexandre, a Strasbourg fan interviewed in contrast, explains how the unhappy supporters felt when their captain and key player was seen holding up the shirt of a team he doesn’t yet play for:

“You might say he is going to leave anyway but the symbolism is important. Imagine you are a Leeds fan and your best player is suddenly in the Bernabeu with a Real Madrid jersey. We are aware that French players leave for England, Spain and Germany but we deserve a little bit more respect. This looks a lot like what they do in American sport.”

Emegha shirt gaffe frustrates fans

Emanuel Emegha at Cobham after signing for Chelsea.

That is more than fair – we weren’t surprised to see Chelsea agree a deal to sign Emegha from their sister club, but even we were surprised to see him holding up the blue shirt at Cobham. There was no need to do that this early, it really felt like rubbing it in the faces of the Strasbourg fans.

We would be very surprised if that’s repeated – he could just have easily have done it in the summer when the move actually takes place.