31 Mar 2026 07:54:43
What’s not to love about press reports around an international break, during a period of poor form? Believe everything that was written and you’d be worrying about the whole squad moving on this summer. Key headlines:
Top player wants to play at the highest level.
Lad from Barcelona would find Barcelona hard to turn down.
Spanish speaking South American likes the idea of living in - Spain.
Players disillusioned with project - that fans are also disillusioned with.
31 Mar 2026 09:09:53
To be fair, Marc Cucurella's comments on the 'project' are pretty damning.
"I understand this is part of the club's policy, and that they want to take this direction - signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged."
"We have a good core of players. The foundations are there. But, to fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more.
Signing young players only might complicate achieving those goals. Against PSG, we lacked players that had gone through situations like that."
Previous coaches weren't happy with the project, the press question the project, ex-players question the project, the fans are disillusioned with the project, and the players are disillusioned with the project. There must come a point where the owners question if the directors are right, whilst everyone else is wrong?
31 Mar 2026 10:17:52
J, Cole Palmer has already come out and dismissed the Man U rumour. He is also carrying a long-term groin issue, which may just stop any club taking a chance on laying out £100 million plus on him, so expect him to stay.
Cucu looks totally disillusioned with Liam, and will leave if the right offer comes in (unless Liam is binned). The same applies for Enzo. Can we upgrade on those 2? Yes, we can. Their sales will generate nearly £200 million, and that buys us 2 top players in those positions.
Not many other rumours about discontented players at this stage, but if we miss finishing in the top 5 and Liam stays, they will all want to jump ship, as I have previously stated.
The appointment of a top head coach will sort out the majority of the issues you raise. Someone who can nurture the young talent we have, whilst also gaining their respect and delivering trophies. We had those coaches in Tt and Maresca, but, as you so rightly say, they asked for a bit of leeway in recruitment, but were knocked back by the sporting directors. Egghead is now the key to this; he must surely hear the muttered words and read the comments from the written press and the likes of us on these sites, but will he act? That, in my opinion, is the conundrum.
31 Mar 2026 10:53:16
J Cucurella's comments are shared by most people, but what is interesting and significant is that it is coming from one of our more experienced players. Will there be a change of direction? We can only hope so. The first step should be to get rid of the SDs and bring in someone who knows what they are doing.
31 Mar 2026 10:54:06
Greenaway, if those two - EF and MC - leave I will fear for the 'project' even more than I do now.
Yes, you are right that we should get a lot of money for the pair, but how easy will it be to attract players of the same quality to a club that seems not to have had the ambition, or sufficient quality and already top players, to compete successfully for the two major trophies - ie EPL and Champions League - now rather than say by 2030 (which may never happen if we can't retain our top players)?
Where I do agree with you is that getting Champions League qualification is absolutely crucial - particularly as part of the 'project' has been to buy younger players so you can pay them less it seems.
So which top, older player would come for not great wages to compete in UEFA or Conference League (yes we could just be back there again!)? A proven top manager could make a difference to retention. But would any come to us unless they had major say in transfers in and out?
31 Mar 2026 11:08:10
JBS, Regardless of how you feel about Liam Rosenior, there were a lot of Chelsea supporters, myself included, who questioned the decision to sack Enzo Maresca.
In his first season at the club, he took us back to where we belong. He won two trophies and qualified for the Champions League. He should have been rewarded with more say in transfers and credit in the bank.
Instead, he was told to solve the CB situation internally, and we had fans jumping ship at the first sight of adversity this season. It is a damn shame and the reason, in my opinion, that the ship is currently unsettled. The sporting directors have a lot to answer for.
31 Mar 2026 11:33:14
The Cucu comments are insane, but at least he is being completely honest and seems to say what many supporters feel. I would assume he will be leaving this year, as it's very rare for players to speak so openly in a negative light about the club they play for. Most players have enough media training to dodge headlines. This seems like a clear message to the higher-ups, and hopefully they listen.
I don't see a top manager joining unless the SDs are dropped and we change the plan, which I doubt, as I see no indications of. Unfortunately, Old mate on the board made it clear how the majority in power view the project. They are building the greatest squad in world football, and those that don't appreciate that are the delusional ones.
31 Mar 2026 11:50:20
Not good, even the players now think the project has been a bit of a failure.
31 Mar 2026 13:00:17
Melbourne, that's the problem with delusional egomaniacs they think it's everyone else
31 Mar 2026 13:32:59
At last, some of the players are now saying what most have said on here. You need a good experienced coach and experienced players.
Of course, it's good to have talented youngsters, but you need to have a mix of older heads who are top class through the spine of the team.
31 Mar 2026 17:16:25
I agree, delusional egomaniacs do think it's everyone else.
Enzo is supposedly negotiating a new contract. I can't see us reaching an agreement with him, so I think he will leave.
Bill, the players you are referring to are also saying something like sacking Maresca was a mistake. He was referred to by you and others with comments such as inexperienced, out of his depth, a clown and should be sacked last season and this season.
When the players hint that they are not happy with LR, they are correct, but when they didn't want Maresca sacked, they are wrong!!
We are all just fickle supporters that agree with views that support our own views.
31 Mar 2026 18:09:26
Tom
They are saying that sacking Maresca mid-season was a mistake, but we really had no choice, as Maresca played out everything in the media and knew exactly what he was doing. Let's not make him out a saint in this.
31 Mar 2026 18:26:05
Bill, you are absolutely right. Maresca talked himself out of the job. However, his concerns were valid, as are the comments by Cucu. Unfortunately, this has led to us appointing a cardboard cut-out of a coach.
31 Mar 2026 18:53:29
Bill, I certainly do not make Maresca out to be some sort of "saint."
I did not want him to leave but it seemed obvious to me he was being lined up to replace Pep.
I have no idea if LR will turn out to be a successful Chelsea manager and although he wasn't my choice, I will continue to support him and the team.