Football
Joe Cole calls for transparency and patience
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes the club could benefit from more “transparency” with their faithful fans. And the ex-England midfielder has also stressed boss Mauricio Pochettino is getting a raw deal, having taken flack all season for off-field issues as well as results on the pitch.
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FORMER Chelsea star Joe Cole believes the club could benefit from more “transparency” with their faithful fans.
And the ex-England midfielder has also stressed boss Mauricio Pochettino is getting a raw deal, having taken flack all season for off-field issues as well as results on the pitch.
“We don’t know who is pulling the strings at Chelsea,” offered Cole. “We don’t know what the situation is, but we are not where we want to be. But what I would say is that it’s a process – and that does take longer. Look what’s happened at Arsenal. You’ve got to believe in what the club are doing."
“However, I do think the club could benefit from a bit more transparency communication-wise to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. That might help the fans. During the [Roman] Abramovich era we knew what we were, but there needs to be better communication. I’m seeing a team that is fighting for the manager, you saw that in the Manchester United game and in large spells of the Manchester City game."
You’ve got to believe in what the club are doing.
Chelsea consortium owners Todd Boehly and private equity giant Clearlake Captial have had no issue splashing the cash since buying the club in May 2022. But the misfiring Blues are languishing in ninth place in the Premier League ahead of tonight’s mouth-watering London derby with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. And Cole, who enjoyed seven seasons in the Premier League with the club, has called for patience from supporters, even though results have largely not gone to plan this season.
“One thing you can’t push in football is time and wisdom, but that will come once you keep doing the right things,” added Cole, who was capped 56 times for his country and whom also enjoyed Premier League spells with West Ham, Liverpool and Aston Villa.
“Players will get better, as individuals and as a group. It’s understandable there’s going to be blips in the road."
“You can understand the business model where you buy young players, develop them together and then your assets rise in value.
“But for players to improve, you just don’t need a great manager like [Mauricio] Pochettino and his staff, he’s doing a great job bringing them along. You need senior players to learn from, but you need continuity. That needs to be ironed out. The consistency needs to improve around the club, everything that’s goes around the first time."
“I see enough glimpses of a decent team at Chelsea, but it’s just a very difficult club to take over. The history of the club, used to having success, is a really tough burden to have for these young players. They’re not they’re yet these players, but they can be. They’re all growing as individuals and a team. But there’s enough quality there for them to do – and over the next few years we’ll fine out.”
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Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.