Many players regret signing long-term contracts with Chelsea

The club's poor performance has left many players regretting signing eight-year contracts, according to The Athletic.

According to the British newspaper on February 6, many Chelsea players have discussed privately and expressed dissatisfaction with the contract term. This takes place in the context that Chelsea has never exceeded the tenth position since the beginning of the 2023-2024 Premier League season. Some players are worried that the team will continue to be in crisis and that the long-term contract will become a barrier that prevents them from leaving.

Chelsea have signed most of their new players to long-term contracts since owner Todd Boehly took over in May 2022. Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo have all signed until 2031. Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Deivid Washington until 2030.

Caicedo (right) plays in Chelsea's 2-4 loss to Wolves in the 23rd round of the Premier League on February 4 at Stamford Bridge. Photo: AP

According to financial experts, Chelsea's long-term contracts are an amortization tactic. This allows them to spread the cost of buying players over the next several financial years and not violate financial fair play rules.

Since taking over Chelsea, Boehly has spent $1.3 billion on the transfer market. But contrary to the American owner's expectations, the strategy of buying mostly young players is becoming a disaster. Gathering many U23 players makes Chelsea inexperienced compared to most opponents. In addition, selling almost every member of the 2021 Champions League winning squad has broken the tactical system and forced the coaches to start from scratch.

Chelsea also paid the price for sacking coach Thomas Tuchel in September 2022. After replacing Tuchel with Graham Potter, Boehly's team finished the 2022-23 season in 12th place in the Premier League, eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup, the League Cup and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. After recruiting coach Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2023, Chelsea have yet to regain their inherent class. Except for reaching the League Cup final - against Liverpool on February 25, they still disappointed when they ranked 11th in the Premier League after 23 rounds, losing 1-4 to Newcastle, 1-4 to Liverpool and 2-4 to Wolves.

On February 4, right after the 2-4 loss to Wolves, the wife of midfielder Thiago Silva hinted on social media that coach Pochettino should be fired. However, the Argentine coach said he still received the support of his boss.

Thanh Quy (according to Athletic )

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