Didier Drogba, a legendary former player of Chelsea, has criticized the club's co-owner Todd Boehly for some of the decisions made since he acquired the team from Roman Abramovich. In an interview with Canal+, Drogba expressed his belief that Boehly has focused too much on acquiring young players, resulting in a bloated squad. He also stated that Chelsea has fundamentally changed for the worse under Boehly's ownership. According to Drogba, the team lacks charismatic leaders who can handle difficult stretches and guide teammates in the right direction.
Drogba's full statement was as follows:
“I don’t recognize my club. It’s no longer the same club. There is a new owner and a new vision. Of course, we try to compare it with what happened during the [Roman] Abramovich era where a lot of players were brought in, but the decisions were very intelligent. Bringing in players like Petr Cech, Andriy Shevchenko, Herman Crespo, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, and so on. It was done to win titles. They are players with a certain experience. The strategy is now different; we bet on young players. But a dressing room of over 30 players is difficult [to manage] for a manager. You need players that take on the game, that assume their responsibilities. You need a player that brings a bit of madness to the stadium.”
While Drogba acknowledged that Chelsea had brought in many players during Abramovich's tenure, he emphasized that the decisions were intelligent and aimed at winning titles. He cited several players, including himself, who were brought in due to their experience and ability to make an impact on the pitch.
Drogba believes that the current strategy of betting on young players is flawed, particularly given the size of the squad. He argues that a large dressing room can be difficult to manage for a manager, and that it is important to have players who take on the game and assume their responsibilities. Drogba also feels that the team lacks a player who can bring a bit of madness to the stadium and energize both the team and the fans.
Overall, Drogba's comments suggest that he is not pleased with the direction in which Chelsea is headed under Boehly's ownership. As a former player and club legend, his opinion carries weight among both fans and the wider footballing community.