Speaking ahead of Napoli’s Champions League clash with Chelsea on January 28, 2026, at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Conte highlighted the club’s strategy of investing in young, high-potential players as a positive step toward building a sustainable future. 16
In a press conference, Conte reflected fondly on his time at Stamford Bridge from 2016 to 2018, where he secured the Premier League title in his debut season and the FA Cup the following year. “We won the Premier League in the first year, losing the FA Cup final. In the following season we won it,” he said. “I want to thank Roman Abramovich. Together with Marina [Granovskaia], they gave me the opportunity to have my first experience abroad. It was a wonderful experience.” 16
Turning to the present, Conte added: “Now Chelsea is continuing to have the same winning mentality, the same desire to win. They buy young and important players. They are building something important for the future.” 16 This endorsement comes at a time when Chelsea’s ownership has faced mounting criticism from fans and former players for prioritizing long-term financial sustainability and youth development over immediate trophy success. Since the Boehly-led consortium took over in May 2022, the club has spent over £1 billion on transfers, focusing predominantly on under-23 talents like Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and recent additions such as Pedro Neto, but results have been inconsistent, with no major trophies won in the intervening years.
Conte’s remarks have ignited fierce debate among Chelsea supporters, many of whom view the ownership’s approach as a departure from Abramovich’s era of aggressive spending on proven stars that delivered consistent silverware. On X, fans have been vocal in their disagreement. One post from user @topskillsportuk echoed sentiments from former Chelsea legend José Mourinho, who reportedly criticized the current owners for not listening to fans and players, contrasting it with Abramovich’s hands-on style: “If this changes and helps Chelsea, they NEED to listen to the fans.” 21 Another from @RhysCarefree outlined a scathing critique, accusing the owners of treating the club like a “football stock market” by signing depreciating assets solely for resale value, rather than balancing the squad for wins: “Winning is not their top priority… They don’t belong here.” 29
Ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has also weighed in recently, stating on a podcast that the club’s priorities have shifted from winning to “buying & selling young players” for profit and top-four finishes. 27 Similarly, Joe Cole, another Blues icon, lambasted the ownership for turning Chelsea into a “trial institution for coaches” and ignoring fan demands, emphasizing that Abramovich “NEVER did that.” 23 Pundit Scott Minto questioned on talkSPORT whether the owners see Chelsea as a trophy-chasing entity or “just a hedge fund,” highlighting the perceived imbalance between business and on-pitch success. 25
This backlash underscores a growing divide. Under Abramovich, Chelsea won 21 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues, often through big-money signings of established players. The current regime’s model, inspired by multi-club ownership strategies like those at City Football Group or Red Bull, emphasizes player trading for profit—evidenced by sales like Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher—to comply with financial fair play rules while building a young squad. However, with Chelsea currently mid-table in the 2025/26 Premier League season under Liam Rosenior (who replaced Enzo Maresca in early January 2026), fans argue this approach has sacrificed short-term competitiveness.
Conte’s history with Chelsea adds irony to his comments. His tenure ended acrimoniously in 2018 amid reported disputes over transfer backing, leading to his sacking after a fifth-place finish. 6 Former striker Diego Costa, who played under Conte, recently reignited their feud by calling him a “very bitter guy” whom “nobody liked,” blaming him for his own Chelsea exit. 9 26 Conte responded dismissively, noting Costa “wanted to go away three times” during their title-winning season. 12
As Napoli prepares to face Chelsea in a must-win Group Stage match (both teams need points to advance), Conte’s words could add extra spice. For Chelsea fans in Lagos and globally, this “unpopular” praise from a club legend has only amplified calls for change at the top. Whether it influences BlueCo’s strategy remains to be seen, but the debate rages on social media and beyond, with #BlueCoOut trending amid the discontent. (Word count: 812)
