Chelsea’s Strasbourg project turning sour as angry fans protest

Stamford Bridge isn’t the only place where Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are facing criticism. Fans of Strasbourg, the French club they bought last summer as part of their multi-club project, are also unhappy.

Chelsea’s owners are feeling the heat not just from their own supporters but also from Strasbourg fans. The biggest fan group of Strasbourg, known as Ultra Boys 90, have made it clear they don’t welcome Boehly and Eghbali’s project.

In France, there’s frustration due to poor results, criticism of their focus on young players in transfers, and fans feeling ignored by the owners, which sounds familiar to Chelsea fans.

Chelsea supporters have warned of planned protests, and at Strasbourg, supporters are already revolting. They’re organizing a protest march before their game against Rennes on Sunday.

Ultra Boys 90, the main voice of Strasbourg fans, voiced their concerns, stating that the club has become nothing more than a financial asset owned by investors who prioritize their other clubs. They feel the multi-club approach is damaging football.

Strasbourg fans feel like their club is being used to benefit Chelsea, rather than being cared for as its own entity.

Boehly claims they’re trying to develop young talent for Chelsea by giving them playing time in a competitive European league. But Strasbourg fans have been against this idea from the beginning and their discontent has only grown.

Strasbourg’s performance in Ligue 1 has suffered, and they’re now struggling against relegation. Experienced players have been sold, and replacements seem to prioritize youth over experience.

When Strasbourg needed reinforcements, they received young players from Chelsea, which didn’t fully address the team’s needs. This has led to frustration among fans and even forced the team to change its playing style.

The relationship between Strasbourg and Chelsea isn’t working well. Chelsea’s sporting directors seem to hold significant influence over Strasbourg’s decisions.

Efforts have been made to calm tensions, with the club president and players meeting with fans. However, fans still demand a meeting with BlueCo, especially Eghbali, who is deeply involved in both clubs’ football operations but has shown limited presence at Strasbourg matches.

Despite assurances that Chelsea sees themselves as equals to Strasbourg, fans remain suspicious. Similar situations have occurred before, such as Troyes’ relegation after being taken over by Manchester City’s City Football Group.

With protests planned, Boehly and Eghbali are facing criticism from both Chelsea’s fans and those of Strasbourg.