Chelsea’s DNA is GONE: Todd Boehly and BlueCo face criticism from Blues legend

Robin Bairner

• 1 May 2025 07:00 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been criticised for failing to understand the DNA of the Stamford Bridge side during a hapless period following the takeover of the side from Roman Abramovich in 2022.

Boehly is a key member of the BlueCo consortium that has spent lavishly on the Blues, setting out a fresh project for the Premier League giants involving the purchase of young stars on long contracts.

On the field, Chelsea have struggled under Boehly’s guidance, although they remain firmly in the hunt to reach the Champions League next season after a couple of campaigns in the wilderness.

The Blues have notably chopped and changed manager on a regular basis, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and now Enzo Maresca all taking permanent charge over the short period of BlueCo’s ownership.

‘Boehly doesn’t know what Chelsea is all about’

Ruud Gullit, player-manager at Stamford Bridge in the 90s, has criticised the club for this, claiming that Chelsea have lost their DNA as a consequence.

“I met Todd Boehly at a meeting for all the clubs that was arranged by Nassar Al-Khelaifi of Paris Saint-Germain. And I was there for the first time and I said to myself, I can just introduce myself, you know,” Gullit said before going on to explain to the American that he once played and managed Chelsea, something the American was oblivious too.

“Can I blame him for not knowing? No, I don't think so.

“But this is what it is a little bit, because they don't know about what the club is all about. And your DNA is gone. You have a certain DNA, and that is a little bit gone.

“You had a good DNA at Arsenal with Wenger, which also went a little bit. Now you have a new DNA, a new way.

“Klopp gave Liverpool a DNA. What is Liverpool all about? And they got another coach who did exactly the same. A little bit, slight difference, but... technically, it’s almost the same. That's what you need to do.

“You don't need to get a new coach who does something totally different. You have to build on that same DNA. And that is what I see with a lot of clubs. They lose that.”

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