Chelsea’s co‑owner, Behdad Eghbali, recently opened up about the club’s direction during a rare interview at the CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles. He addressed several pressing topics, ranging from the recent departure of former head coach Enzo Maresca to the club’s current approach in the transfer market, and he offered his perspective on manager Liam Rosenior’s future at Stamford Bridge. Eghbali, who co‑founded Clearlake Capital – the firm that leads BlueCo, the investment consortium that bought Chelsea and also owns French side Strasbourg – spoke candidly about the challenges the club faces this season. Chelsea sit four points behind Liverpool in fifth place and are under genuine threat of missing out on next season’s Champions League.
Their recent form has been worrying: only one win in the last seven league fixtures and three consecutive defeats, leaving fans and the board anxious about the team’s trajectory after Maresca’s unexpected exit on New Year’s Day. "Our policy has been no in‑season head‑coach changes," Eghbali explained.
He emphasized that while the club does hold the manager, the broader coaching staff, and the sporting director accountable, any major personnel shifts are typically reserved for the summer window, not the middle of a campaign. "It’s not a change we wanted to make when Enzo left.
It had a negative impact on the season because you’re altering systems and personnel mid‑campaign, and we now have to fight our way out of that situation," he added. Despite the setbacks, Eghbali remains optimistic about the remaining fixtures. Chelsea have six Premier League matches left, plus an FA Cup semi‑final looming. "The story of this season isn’t written yet," he said.
"When you get punched in the face, you have to fight back, stand up, and show the character of the squad." Stability, he noted, is the key theme for the club’s future. "Getting stability on the manager side is something we haven’t nailed yet, and it’s a priority we’re working on," Eghbali said, underscoring the need for a clear, consistent vision. Regarding Liam Rosenior, Eghbali expressed confidence built over an 18‑month period of daily interaction.
"We know what we’re getting," he said. "He possesses every attribute needed to succeed here.
He started well, and although the last five or six games have been tough, we believe we’re behind Liam. Football is a results business, but we see long‑term potential in him." Eghbali also elaborated on Chelsea’s youth‑focused recruitment policy, acknowledging that while developing home‑grown talent remains essential, the club now requires more experienced, "ready‑made" players to complement the young core.
"We’re still in the 40th or 50th minute of that process," he admitted. "The aim is to sign, retain, and extend contracts with some of the world’s best players. To win sustainably, you need eight, ten, twelve, even fifteen elite players." He praised the progress made so far, noting that the club has done many things correctly but must improve in a few key areas. Adding seasoned professionals at this stage of the project, he argued, will elevate Chelsea to the next level and ensure consistency over time.
The interview also touched on fan sentiment. Some supporters are planning to join Strasbourg fans in a protest against the owners ahead of the Saturday home match against Manchester United.
Eghbali responded by reaffirming BlueCo’s commitment to the club’s ownership strategy and to delivering major trophies, echoing the ambition set under former owner Roman Abramovich. "We care about the fans and want the club to succeed on the pitch," he said. "Six months ago everyone was happy. Results have been mixed and disappointing recently, so we’re reflecting on what we can improve.
There is a plan, we tweak it if it isn’t working, and we remain committed." He concluded with a stark statement: success cannot be measured without winning. "You might not win every game, and you’ll make mistakes, but a club like Chelsea must win trophies consistently.
We achieved that last year, had an up‑and‑down season this year, but the objective remains unchanged." In summary, Eghbali’s interview painted a picture of a club in transition: a manager given time to prove himself, a youth‑centric philosophy that now needs seasoned reinforcements, and an ownership group determined to restore Chelsea to the summit of English and European football. The next few weeks, with crucial league matches and a high‑profile FA Cup semi‑final, will be a decisive test of whether the promised stability and strategic adjustments can translate into the results the fans demand.