Chelsea have failed to compete for the biggest trophies since BlueCo took over at Stamford Bridge in 2022
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has work to do at Chelsea(Image: Glyn Kirk/AFP)
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Chelsea legend Ruud Gullit believes that the Blues and Liverpool are proof that Premier League money is not everything. Since Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the west London club in May 2022, BlueCo have forked out £1.8billion on 133 new signings.
The Blues have also recouped nearly £1bn from the sale of 137 players. Over the last four years, Chelsea has spent by far more than any other Premier League club, but they have also sold more.
However, the Blues' lavish spending and huge fees spent have failed to deliver the biggest trophies. Under BlueCo, Chelsea have won the Conference League and Club World Cup, but there has been no serious Premier League title challenge or deep run in the Champions League.
And Gullit, who made 64 appearances for the Blues, has delivered his view on Chelsea's transfer strategy in recent years. The Dutchman has also had his say on Liverpool, who, despite spending heavily under Arne Slot last summer, endured a poor campaign in 2025/26, leading to Slot's sacking.
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He said: "If you have a lot of money it is difficult to spend it wisely. Very, very difficult. The top five clubs, most of the time, they get one out of every three signings right, and they’re the ones who are going to make it, and that is good, if you’re lucky.
"It’s not easy to buy players of a high standard, who can also make it in the Premier League because it’s a league that is played to a totally different tempo, a different way of playing. There’s so much that goes into it therefore it’s obvious that you are not going to get that instant success. Look at last year in Europe. Many of the English teams were struggling.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2024/06/01: Ruud Gullit seen during the UEFA Champions League final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium. Final score; Borussia Dortmund 0:2 Real Madrid. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Ruud Gullit has had his say on Chelsea and Liverpool(Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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"Liverpool are a good example of how it is the most difficult part to buy the right players. It is really, really hard. Chelsea also go and buy all the best young players again and again but that doesn’t give them success either.
"There are so many examples of teams that buy players and success still doesn’t come. We have seen how to do it with Arsenal but how long did it take them? Year after year, bit by bit, but a lot of money every year.
"You see Liverpool. They were unbeaten in the Champions League until the knockout stages and then they were knocked out immediately. There are no certainties in football no matter what you do but that’s a good thing about the game now."
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If the Blues are to improve after the international break, Gullit has claimed that Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso will need the help of his newly acquired experienced players.
"I like that the first thing Xabi Alonso did was go and bring more experience into this Chelsea team," the former Chelsea great told ComeOn. "He knows they needed it, and it means that Chelsea as a club have changed their philosophy a bit for Alonso.
"They saw it wasn’t working, and they’ve tried to change it. It will still take time for Chelsea because they have so many young players there, and Alonso will need time to bring some order to them."