CHELSEA’S owners have published a list of demands as they gear up for a big summer at Stamford Bridge.
And one of the objectives is a warning to head coach Mauricio Pochettino that he needs to be getting the team back into the Champions League.
Failure to finish in the top four this season means they face a second successive campaign out of Europe’s money-spinning elite competition.
Chelsea have spent £1 billion on new players since an American-led consortium bought the club for £2.5 billion in May 2022.
The club insists it will comply with Premier League Profit & Sustainability rules but may look set to offload a raft of players to balance the books.
The board of directors produced an open letter to fans in their matchday programme as they wound up a turbulent 12 months at home to Bournemouth.
And it read: “There have been some moments of frustration, many others to cherish, and countless reasons to be optimistic and excited for the years ahead.
“We are now approaching the second anniversary since becoming custodians of this incredible club and it remains an absolute privilege to hold that position.”
The wide-ranging list of aims included a desire for:
*Consistently winning or contending for the Premier League and Women’s Super League titles.
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By Andy Dillon
IT IS HIGHLY unlikely that Mauricio Pochettino is familiar with the work of Rumi.
Whether the renowned Islamic poet and mystic had the tactical dilemmas facing Chelsea’s head coach in mind while dreaming up his scholarly works in 13th century Afghanistan, we will never know.
It’s fair to say Rumi was not a regular in The Shed at Stamford Bridge.
Yet one of his most famous quotations strikes right at the heart of Pochettino’s problems trying to transform his team into consistent challengers at the top end of the Premier League.
It was Rumi who wrote so prophetically: “Two birds tied together. They will not be able to fly even though they have four wings.”
He could have scribbled that on the back of his programme from so many of Chelsea’s games this season with regard to Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
There is a feeling among regular Chelsea watchers that while it is a blow on a personal level for Fernandez to be ruled out for the rest of the season with his injury problem, it may yet turn to Pochettino’s advantage.
For it allows Caicedo to roam that patch in front of his defence with greater freedom. Both players are exceptional individual talents.
Read Andy Dillon’s take on Chelsea’s midfield in full.
Or check out all of Andy Dillon’s articles.
“Consistently playing in the Champions League and competing for domestic cups.
*Consistently competing for titles across the youth age groups. Developing and discovering the next generation of footballing talent for the benefit of the club.
*Being responsible actors and contributors to our community, while meeting Financial Fair Play and other regulatory requirements.
“Earning the trust and confidence of our supporters.
Head coach Pochettino is meeting with the hierarchy and sporting director Paul Winstanley.
Laurence Stewart and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali for talks over his future.
He has one year left on a two-year contract and admitted he felt closest to getting the sack in February following a 4-2 home defeat by Wolves.
STAY in the know this summer with The Sun's transfer experts.
Real Madrid are reportedly targeting Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister,
Meanwhile, Champions League new boys Aston Villa are eyeing up Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton – with talk over who’ll replace him hotting up.
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