Why Nagelsmann canceled Chelsea FC
| Reading time: 3 minutes
By Axel Hesse, Robert Schreier
His dismissal from Bayern came as a surprise. A little later, Julian Nagelsmann already had the prospect of a new lucrative job. But the coach quickly waved it off at Chelsea given the circumstances.
WWhen a top club calls, coaches usually hope for the redeeming message with the promise. Like Mauricio Pochettino (51) who waited for Chelsea to call him every day. Julian Nagelsmann (35), on the other hand, took the initiative himself.
Last week he informed Chelsea owner Todd Boehly (49) that he was not interested in the job at Stamford Bridge and would not hold any further talks. Nagelsmann had previously been told at a meeting in London that he was the club’s preferred candidate. What deterred him was the unrest in the club, which was already reflected in the public trainer casting. Added to this was: poor organization, too large a squad put together at random, negative mood. For the next season it is to be feared that frustrated stars like Romelu Lukaku (29/currently Inter Milan) will return to the team after their loan.
Billionaire Boehly, who bought Chelsea for almost five billion euros just under a year ago, couldn’t offer him what Nagelsmann needs after FC Bayern: a club where he can concentrate on working with the team. Everything at Chelsea is geared towards Boehly. Only his word counts. This makes the investor himself the problem and the reason for the crash.
Players openly criticize Chelsea’s strategy
He bought new players this season for 600 million euros. Result: 20 points behind fourth place, which entitles them to the Champions League – and an extension of the dressing room. Since after the spending spree not all players could fit into the changing room, the professionals’ area was expanded to include a room that previously served young players who, for example, are about to be loaned out but are still training with the Blues. “In January we signed eight players. We have to stop that and develop a strategy,” said Chelsea’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (38) after the Champions League quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid.
Boehly burned money, prevented success, sacrificed coaches (Tuchel, Potter, Lampard) and sold the soul of the club. He shows little respect for coaches, players and football connoisseurs. The American, who will be more at home in baseball and basketball until 2022, tries to teach her. He has the money, he conducts the talks, he decides. He goes into the dressing room and makes angry speeches when he feels like it. Whether that suits the coach doesn’t interest him. Anyone who does not comply will fly like Thomas Tuchel (49 / now FC Bayern) at the beginning of the season.
With the same hubris, Boehly introduced the four-director structure. Everyone has just as little decision-making power. It’s only up to Boehly. If there are problems, hierarchies are ignored. Everyone wants to clarify their concerns with the boss because only his word counts.
Krösche is a CEO candidate at Chelsea
Now that hundreds of millions are gone, Boehly is turning around. He is looking for a club boss, a CEO with football skills who will take over the day-to-day management and structure the club. With Frankfurt’s Markus Krösche (42), a Bundesliga boss is one of the candidates. Perhaps it would have made more sense to first decide on this personality and then commit the coach.
The interplay in the dressing room will certainly continue. Striker Christopher Nkunku (25) comes from RB Leipzig. Defensive players are needed. And then the club has to sell. It is possible that Kai Havertz (23), the most consistent offensive player this season, is one of the stars leaving the club of their own accord.
It’s not fun at Chelsea anymore.
The text was written for the sports competence center (WELT, SPORT BILD, BILD) and first published in SPORT BILD.