Despite the billions invested, Chelsea have shown little progress on the pitch, and BlueCo’s approach is now facing more scrutiny. Juan Mata is one of the latest voices to weigh in.
According to recent reports, Chelsea have spent nearly £3 billion since Todd Boehly and Clearlake took over at Stamford Bridge. The majority of that has gone towards player recruitment.
And while there’s no doubt that Liam Rosenior has a squad full of potential, questions remain about whether it has the experience and leadership needed to compete at the highest level.
Some young players have been unfairly judged due to the overall lack of experience in their side.
Juan Mata speaks out in defence of Chelsea, says other clubs are doing the same
Chelsea fans have been asking the club to bring in more experienced players, especially at centre-back. The team has had a hard time filling the gap left by Thiago Silva since he departed in 2024.
Mata, speaking on TalkSPORT with Gabby Agbonlahor, was asked whether he thought Chelsea’s transfer strategy made sense. Instead of criticising, Mata chose to defend the club’s approach.
“I don’t think it’s only Chelsea. It is something that has changed in football. Every club wants to sign young players because they have the potential to become better and to grow market value,” Mata said.
He also stated that:
It’s worth noting that this wasn’t the first time Mata has discussed Chelsea this season. Earlier this year, he praised Liam Rosenior for his coaching style and willingness to allow different personalities within the squad.
Chelsea reportedly set to shift transfer strategy
Despite having plenty of centre-back options, none are over the age of 28. Tosin is the oldest, while Levi Colwill – one of the more experienced players in that group – has missed the entire season through injury.
While links to young defenders like Honest Ahanor and Tylel Tati continue, reports suggest that BlueCo are now open to bringing in a few older players to balance things out.
There are some younger targets as well – Jeremy Jacquet was linked back in January – but names like Kim Min-jae, Jules Kounde, and Marcos Senesi have also come up. Many fans would welcome a bit more experience at the back.
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