Todd Boehly has dismissed calls for his departure from Chelsea after fans staged a protest outside Stamford Bridge, describing such criticism as “par for the course.”
Since taking over nearly three years ago, Boehly’s consortium has spent over £1.5 billion on transfers, yet Chelsea have failed to finish higher than sixth in the Premier League. Frustrations have been mounting, particularly as the club has not won a major trophy since their 2020/21 Champions League triumph under Thomas Tuchel.
Discontent boiled over before Chelsea’s recent win over Southampton, as a group of supporters gathered to protest against Boehly, Clearlake Capital, and other key figures at BlueCo. Fans chanted “We want our Chelsea back” and openly expressed nostalgia for former owner Roman Abramovich.
When questioned about the backlash at the FT Business of Football Summit, Boehly remained unfazed: “You’re not going to keep everyone happy all the time. The sooner you accept that, the freer you feel,” he said.
Despite Chelsea’s inconsistent performances, Boehly remains optimistic about the club’s trajectory. “We are executing a plan. Things aren’t linear, but we’re moving in the right direction,” he insisted.
Boehly also took aim at the British media, accusing them of exaggeration. “They leave stuff out and blow things up for their own gain. We’ve agreed on a strategy, and things are getting done,” he added.
One of the biggest criticisms of Chelsea’s current regime has been their heavy investment in young players while allowing experienced figures to leave. Addressing this, Boehly stressed the importance of squad longevity: “Great teams have legendary captains who stay for years. We want to build that kind of dynasty.”
Chelsea also refrained from signing a striker in January, despite links to several top forwards. Boehly defended the club’s approach, emphasizing quality over urgency: “Finding the right striker isn’t like picking up groceries. It’s a rare skillset, and the mentality has to be right.”
As Chelsea continue their search for stability, Boehly remains firm in his vision, regardless of fan discontent. Whether his long-term approach will bring success remains to be seen.