BlueCo hunting a new manager: Chelsea owners’ run of mayhem continues

BlueCo’s competence as owners of Chelsea has repeatedly been questioned in recent months, and the Stamford Bridge side have received another worrying sign with confirmation the group is hunting yet another manager.

Over the course of the four years that BlueCo has run the Stamford Bridge club, its transfer policy has repeatedly grabbed headlines, while it has gone through a succession of head coaches.

A turbulent 12 months have seen Chelsea led by Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior, Calum McFarlane and now Xabi Alonso.

But this is not a one-off. Strasbourg, who are also owned by BlueCo, have been through a similar list of coaches.

Rosenior, Gary O’Neil and now Hugo Oliveira have all been in charge of the Ligue 1 side during 2026. Just 10 matches into Oliveira’s reign, Racing are seeking a fourth permanent appointment of 2026.

L’Equipe confirms that the club is ‘sounding out’ other coaches, with the Portuguese ‘causing concern internally’. It goes on to suggest that former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is a contender to take the post should Oliveira be sacked.

The situation will only aggravate the fractious relationship with the Strasbourg ultras, who are angered by the club’s loss of identity under BlueCo and have regularly protested against the owners.

While this does not directly impact Chelsea, it sends another worrying signal out about the ownership of the club and its ability to appoint the right managers – or at least give their managers the correct setting to thrive.

Xabi Alonso does appear to be getting things right at Stamford Bridge, but even the Spaniard has not been without his faults. Chelsea, with no European football to juggle this season, have lost more games than any other club in the top 10 in the Premier League and have conceded the second-highest number of goals with 16.

He does, at least, have the club moving in the right direction.

Across in France, the same cannot be said of Oliveria, who is expected to deliver European football again for Strasbourg. Racing are currently 13th in Ligue 1 after losing five of their last six matches, while they have failed to keep a clean sheet all season.

And this does echo, to some extent, back in London.

Chelsea expect Strasbourg to be a feeder club of talent and to help develop players on loan. Playing in a team that has European football will only accelerate the development of Filip Jorgensen, Genesis Antwi and Dario Essugo, who are the Blues players across in France this season.

Strasbourg are far from that at present, and BlueCo’s inability to find them a strong manager is not helping.

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