There are few things more galling than watching people waste money, and there’s no denying Chelsea have frittered away a mildly offensive amount of cash in the past two years.
It has felt dirty and heartless and bare-facedly moronic, ruthless to a fault and at times disrespectful to the fabric of sport. All the great disruptors disrupted was themselves.
It’s hard to quantify the damage Todd Boehly’s stint as self-appointed interim sporting director had on Chelsea’s image. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling may no longer be with us, but their memory perpetuates the overarching idea of a club run by footballing magpies constructing the world’s most ornate yet structurally unsound nest.
It is now 22 months since Boehly relinquished control of transfer business, first replaced by Paul Winstanley in December 2022 before he was joined by Laurence Stewart two months later. Former Manchester City academy wizard Joe Shields signed up in January 2023.
Andrew Cousins joined as head of scouting in July of the same year, while Sam Jewell, part of Brighton’s South American talent mine, followed his former boss Winstanley in May 2024.
Somewhere along the way, a genuinely competent recruitment set-up has emerged. The early signs were there last season in Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto and Nicolas Jackson, yet time and experience is only shining more light on the talent depth at Stamford Bridge.
Renato Veiga is the next erstwhile unknown to assert his abilities, operating somewhere between left-back and attacking midfield against Gent, having previously been a defensive midfielder against Bournemouth and a full-back before that. His is a remarkably confident versatility for his age, punctuated not only by his first Chelsea goal on Thursday, but also by an assist, six duels won, four chances created and 100 per cent success from his three long balls. A great knee-slide to celebrate didn’t hurt either.
It was assumed in the wake of his £12m signing that the 21-year-old would leave on loan, with widespread scepticism surrounding his abilities based on an underwhelming CV, low price and non-existent name recognition.
Yet the early indicators around his potential and performances, coupled with the continuing development of players like Palmer, Jackson and Gusto, alongside Noni Madueke, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, are reinspiring faith in a scouting system which once seemed fundamentally broken.
There was much mockery of Chelsea’s attempts to sign Samu Omorodion and Jhon Duran this summer, yet both are vindicating that the grown-ups might actually know what they’re doing. Add in the apparent resurrection of Jadon Sancho’s sumptuous talent and all the evidence points towards a recruitment structure which can provide the basis for long-term success.
This isn’t an assessment of the frankly ridiculous fees paid for some of these players, or a validation of the cruel transfer policy around academy players. But it is recognition that Chelsea’s £1bn spending spree should no longer be considered scattergun.
Enzo Maresca can now call on two entirely separate XIs, making 11 changes against Gent from the 4-2 win over Brighton. There’s a clear gulf in quality between the two, but this is a deep squad which has immense talent woven throughout it.
And there is already more where the current crop came from. Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian, set to join ahead of next summer’s Club World Cup, appear unique talents in Palmer’s mould, the kind of magically elevating forces which fuel title challenges. The early signs of Maresca’s reign finally suggest they may well come into a club able to provide them the necessary support to flourish as they should.
It’s probably about time we discuss the Mykhailo Mudryk pouting in the corner. A deal which Behdad Eghbali personally ensured went through, the Ukrainian will remain a stick to beat Chelsea with every final pass he misplaces and shot he rolls at an onrushing goalkeeper. His assist for Veiga’s opener against Gent was positive, but pity has become the prevailing emotion around the young winger.
Youth development is never a flawless or linear process, but it does appear to be a concept Maresca – another example of much-improved recruitment – has a clear vision of and adeptness for. Even if Mudryk ends up another victim of Chelsea’s brutal rebuild, he will be the exception rather than the rule.
This all feeds into a wider rejuvenation at Stamford Bridge, the creeping sense that everything just might be alright after all. Maresca has undoubtedly been blessed by a near fully-fit squad Mauricio Pochettino could only dream of, but he’s making the most of it.
Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures mean darker days are ahead, but solid foundations will allow these to pass without descending into the talk of terminal decline and Armageddon which has characterised the early Boehly-Clearklake era. The Conference League appears to guarantee one trophy, another undoubted morale booster even if it’s overwhelmingly expected.
A strong start, Palmer’s ascent to footballing deity and the wider feeling that the club’s decision making has tangibly improved are all reason for the swelling positivity at Chelsea, a rare and brittle phenomenon of late.
As Maresca has said, time is the luxury Chelsea now need most, the fundamental difference between his side and the genuine title challengers. Six months ago, more time would have just seemed an opportunity for more things to go wrong. Now it might be the key to solidifying the new Chelsea empire.
