“I don’t think” – Strasbourg president denies accusation as he opens up on Chelsea relationship | OneFootball

Strasbourg president Marc Keller has denied the Ligue 1 side are a feeder club for Chelsea as he opened up on the relationship between the two sides.

BlueCo purchased the Ligue 1 side for £65m as Chelsea added the first club to their multi-club ownership, but they’ve not been able to win over all Strasbourg fans.

Thanks to the investment from BlueCo, Strasbourg are now playing European football and are becoming one of the most exciting young sides in France.

Marc Keller on relationship between Strasbourg and Chelsea

Both clubs are seemingly benefitting from the relationship, and Chelsea send three of their talented youngsters on loan to the French side each season.

In return they get minutes and develop as players, and the best come back and are ready to play for the Blues, with Andrey Santos a prime example.

Djordje Petrovic, who’s subsequently been sold to Bournemouth excelled at the Ligue 1 club last season, and both he and Santos were key to securing Conference League qualification.

The transfer of Emegha to Chelsea didn’t go down well with Strasbourg fans.

Chelsea have also sold players to the Ligue 1 outfit like Ben Chilwell and Diego Moreira, but the Blues also get first refusal on some of Strasbourg’s top talent, but there are accusations they are just a feeder club.

“I know a minority of people are still asking some questions about the multi-club model,” he told BBC Sport.

“Of course, we continue dialogue, and I think that the best answer, as I used to be a footballer, is on the pitch.

“I don’t think we are a feeder club, because a feeder club we are sending three, four, five, six players to Chelsea every season.

“I think it’s more like a younger brother relationship, as we say in France, but you say sister club in England.

“We help each other.”

Both clubs benefitting

Of course Chelsea also benefit from the relationship and they get first refusal on Strasbourg’s top players, which has caused some issues.

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Talented centre back Mamadou Sarr has joined, whilst captain Emmanuel Emegha has signed a seven year deal and will join next summer.

Keller admitted the Emegha deal had caused issues, but from afar it certainly seems like both clubs are benefitting, and Strasbourg would unlikely be in the position they are in without BlueCo.