Chelsea owners BlueCo accused of ‘messing up’ recruitment at Strasbourg as manager calls for culture change | OneFootball

Strasbourg manager Gary O’Neil has launched a scathing attack on BlueCo, the joint owners of both the French club and Chelsea, accusing them of "messing up" recruitment and questioning the overall culture within the organisation.

His pointed remarks echo the widespread discontent among Chelsea supporters, who have voiced similar concerns regarding recruitment, managerial instability, and a perceived lack of clear direction under the same consortium.

O’Neil, who took charge in January, has overseen two semi-final defeats in the last month, with the club exiting the Coupe de France and the Conference League.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are languishing in ninth place in the Premier League, having sacked Liam Rosenior in April after just three months and failing to secure a league win since March 4.

Fans of both clubs united in a joint protest against BlueCo – a consortium led by Behdad Eghbali’s Clearlake Capital and investor Todd Boehly – outside Stamford Bridge in April, underscoring the shared frustrations.

Gary O'Neil is not impressed with the recruitment or culture at Strasbourg (AP)

O’Neil believes the January transfer window actively weakened his squad rather than strengthening it. He highlighted the loaning of striker David Datro Fofana and defender Aaron Anselmino from Chelsea, alongside the recall of influential loanee Mamadou Sarr to west London.

Additionally, Ecuador international Kendry Paez saw his season-long loan cut short by Chelsea, only to be immediately re-loaned to River Plate in Argentina.

Following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Angers, O’Neil told L’Equipe: "I need two centre-forwards. The owners want to give me the means to perform next season, but we have to improve the culture around the club, the quality of the players, and the depth of the squad.

“We messed up in the January transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the squad."

Reflecting on his team’s recent performance, O’Neil did not mince his words.

"I am angry. I hope that the players are, too. There are two matches left and they have to show me that they have to level to play with us next season. But we won’t get anywhere playing like that," he stated.

"They really disappointed me, even more so than on Thursday (against Vallecano). They have to do better. The world of football is full of sharks. They need to know that. I told them that we were playing a final and they didn’t play like they had to."