Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic delivers scathing rant claiming he is ‘lost for words’ over the Blues’ recruitment policy, branding Mauricio Pochettino’s squad as a ‘mid-table team’
- Asmir Begovic did not hold back when giving his view of Chelsea’s recruitment
- The ex-goalkeeper said he was ‘lost for words’ at the club’s transfer strategy
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Asmir Begovic has delivered a brutally scathing assessment of Chelsea’s recent transfer activity, branding Mauricio Pochettino’s team as a ‘mid table squad’ before asking ‘why the club is rebuilding?’
It comes after the London outfit have faced much scrutiny from many in the world of football following their massive squad overhaul since new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital arrived to bring an end to Roman Abramavich’s stewardship of the club back in 2022.
Since then, Chelsea have spent over £1 billion, with the club sensationally breaking the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107million and then add Moises Caicedo this summer for a whopping £115m.
The club have also acquired many exciting young yet unproven Premier League talents, and have lost the cream of their homegrown crop, notably selling Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Their transfer dealings have left some scratching their heads, with Begovic notably expressing his bewilderment at what has happened to his former club.
Asmir Begovic (pictured) has issued a scathing assessment of his former club Chelsea’s transfer dealings
Begovic claimed that the last 12 months had been a blur and he couldn’t understand ‘why Chelsea were rebuilding’ with Todd Boehly (pictured) spending over £1bn to bring in new players
The goalkeeper also branded Mauricio Pochettino’s squad a ‘mid-table side’ before asking ‘why is Chelsea Football Club in transition?’
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‘I, honestly, I mean in the last 12 months… What has happened at Chelsea Football Club? It just beggars belief,’ Begovic said to Alex Goldberg on The Byline podcast.
‘I mean the squad of players at Pochettino’s disposal, the amount of money spent is 12th in the league – it’s mid-table! It is literally mid-table. If they were any higher you would be working miracles.
‘You have a bit of luck with [Christopher] Nkunku, I get it, he’s a top player. Cole Palmer has only just come in. But what is going on with the recruitment of these players? Why is Chelsea Football Club rebuilding?
‘Why is Chelsea Football Club in a transition? This is one of the best. I mean I’ve been there. I’m proud to have been there. It’s one of the best locations to play football in the world.’
During his career, Begovic enjoyed spells with teams throughout England with Stoke, Bournemouth, QPR and Everton. He also spent half a season out on loan at AC Milan where he made two appearances for the Serie A giants.
But during his time at Chelsea, he rubbed shoulders with some legends of the club, playing alongside the likes of John Terry, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
He played under Jose Mourinho during his first season at the club before he was replaced by Antonio Conte in 2016.
‘What is going on with everything at this football club?’ he continued.
‘I remember being with players like in the dressing room, world class, world class, world class. Buying from Barcelona, buying from Real Madrid, buying from Bayern Munich. It’s like, we’re buying from Brighton, potential players. And I get you need a part of that, but where is the top world class players?
‘Chelsea fans expect the best and expect to be challenging for trophies. I don’t see Manchester City rebuilding. When I was there, Chelsea was the standard. From top to bottom. This was the standard.
‘The first team squad I mean was a joke. The standard of players – unbelievable. Then the 23s and the development squad when they used to come train with us – some of those players and what they’ve become now is unbelievable.
‘And then not to mention the academy below that. But what is going on? I could talk about it in attacking or not attacking – but the players at their disposal, I mean it’s a mid-table squad.’
The Blues finished 12th in the Premier League table last season and were one of the lowest scoring sides in the league
Begovic played under Jose Mourinho (pictured) during his time at Chelsea, and rubbed shoulders with club legends like John Terry and Cesc Fabregas
The Blues have endured a mixed start to the new season and still sit 12th in the league having won one game, lost two and drawn another
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League table last season and were one of the lowest scoring sides in the league.
Four games into the new season, the Blues find themselves still in 12th place in the Premier League, having enjoyed a mixed start, drawing to Liverpool on the opening day of the season, winning against Luton, but suffering two losses to Nottingham Forest and rivals West Ham.
‘This is not Chelsea Football Club,’ Begovic added. ‘I just don’t understand. I don’t see Man City rebuilding. Even if they are rebuilding they’re like fifth, sixth at worst. That’s not even good enough, nowhere near.
‘But I’m lost for words. The last 12 months feels like it’s all been a bit of a blur. And yeah that’s just my opinion and there’s my rant.
‘For the football club I know, what it was and what it should be with the fan base, the stadium and central London, this is a world class organisation but it has been anything but for the past 12 months.
‘Yeah it’s not the Chelsea I remember that’s for sure.’
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
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