Frank Leboeuf has made a damning verdict about Chelsea’s fourth-place position last season, referring to it as a disguise for improvement.
The former footballer who played at international level for France feels their finishing position was more a reflection of the overall frailty of the Premier League. He insisted that it had nothing to do with the club’s cohesion.
Speaking on ESPNFC, he said:
“They [Chelsea] finished fourth because the league wasn’t good last season and if you want too much and you expect too much from Chelsea you’re a fool.”
Leboeuf has a much larger complaint regarding the makeup of the Blues’ team. According to him, the team lacks the maturity of experienced players and can’t perform well on a consistent basis at the top level. In his opinion, the lack of experienced professionals in the team has made them weak and unable to deal with pressure.
“You really are a fool because this thing is settled on something very fragile. They don’t have as I have always demanded one or two experienced players where you can put the basics on.”
This is part of Leboeuf’s recent condemnation of the Blues’ recruitment policy and management. The team has many young talents but lacks experienced players who would drive them in do-or-die situations.
Chelsea Struggled to Reach Top Four Last Season
Even though the Blues did qualify in the top four, they did not play to their potential. Their inability to keep calm while making decisions was also exposed. With the new Premier League season coming up, the pressure now squarely falls on the club management to restore balance.
Enzo Maresca and the Todd Boehly regime have been urged to introduce seasoned, leadership-oriented players. Lacking experience in the dressing room, Chelsea are susceptible to being wounded again, regardless of their position in the league.