Por que os protestos dos torcedores do Chelsea foram ouvidos, mas não levarão à mudança e revelamos detalhes completos dos novos Wetherspoons de Stamford Bridge: Chelsea Confidencial

I arrived at Stamford Bridge’s Bovril Gate at 6pm sharp, as advertised, to see whether the protest plans gathering steam on social media had spread to Chelsea supporters attending their game against Southampton.

All the sauce was not, as fans were already letting their frustrations be known as Blue Flares blazed. It should be noted that this was a peaceful protest with the Metropolitan Police making no arrests. There was no appetite for trouble, just an aching to hear their voices.

Initially, I found a crowd of 50 fans, including a dollar bill in front of a banner bearing Todd Boehly’s face with the message: ‘Thank you Chelsea fans for making me richer (vivid seats).’ He added: ‘Wanted for crimes against Chelsea – Clearlake & Blueco.’

Those numbers soon swelled to 200 – not including the loos-loos stopping to watch – as they marched chanting songs from Fulham Road towards the property. The street was scheduled to be closed to traffic at 6.45pm anyway, so it wasn’t much of a concern to the officers.

‘Roman Abramovich’ was the most popular chant of choice, but others included: ‘We want our Chelsea back’; ‘Jose Mourinho’; ‘Blueco Out’; ‘You’re a greedy b*******, get out of our club’; ‘Boehly, you’re the ***’; ‘F*** Vivid Seats’; ‘You should have bought Brighton’; ‘What do you think of Tottenham? S***! What do you f***ing think? Tottenham!’

Some Southampton fans, who could claim to be living a more miserable life at the bottom of the Premier League, started their own chant as they passed: ‘This is embarrassing’. They also mocked their fellow fans for complaining about ‘greed’ after a billion-pound payout.

Fans were protesting against Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake

There were angry chants against the owners, but no arrests were made and it was peaceful

Chelsea hoped to shield their players from the protest, not wanting any distractions ahead of a must-win match.

Updates were being sent back to Stamford Bridge, with one security officer telling his colleagues via radio: ‘There’s about 200 in total. All in good spirits. Some singing.’

Speaking to supporters in attendance, they weren’t all there for the same reason. Boehly got the brunt of his anger as the face of the original acquisition, but others were there to vent their anger at Clearlake Capital and many at the youth-focused recruiting model.

Chelsea had hoped to shield their players from the protest, not wanting any distractions ahead of a must-win match. That is difficult to do in the age of social media and Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill later celebrated their goals with the ‘Yapping’ hand signals, while manager Enzo Maresca and captain Reece James urged supporters to ‘get it together’ in the programme notes.

While the fans have been heard, internally it will not lead to an immediate shift to an approach that the Chelsea hierarchy believe will bring the good times back. Hopefully that will start with a return to the Champions League next season.

Pedro Neto celebrated his goal against Southampton with a ‘talking hand’ gesture

Levi Colwill followed suit when he made it 3-0 in an eventual 4-0 victory

Sun, sea and onboard practice? No thanks!

While Arsenal used their 10-day gap between games to disappear on a warm-weather training trip to Dubai, Chelsea are spending their own mini break at home in London.

The Blues have over a week until their next fixture. That will come when Enzo Maresca takes his side to Copenhagen for the Conference League last 16 on Thursday, March 6, followed by a Premier League clash at home to Leicester on Sunday, March 9.

Enzo Maresca could have pushed a break abroad for his players but opted against it

Maresca had the power to push through a trip to somewhere sunnier, but the 45-year-old Italian decided not to tell his players to pack their bags as they will spend time at home with their families and continue working at Cobham.

Wesley Fofana will use the time to build up his fitness, with a view to facing his former club Leicester, who sold him to Chelsea for £73million, in 2022.

It would be his first appearance since December 1 after a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old Frenchman will not travel to Copenhagen after being left out of their Conference League squad.

Rugby League In, Rugby Union Out

Willie Isa has already started working with Chelsea in a full-time role at their Cobham training base, his responsibilities including a goal to instil a winning culture in a player support capacity.

That surprise appointment – broken by Mail Sport – has led some supporters to wonder what happened to the other signing they made from the rugby world in Gilbert Enoka, the All Blacks coach who introduced the ‘No D***Heads’ policy into the New Zealand setup.

Gilbert Enoka made his name with the All Blacks, where he introduced the ‘No D*** Heads’ rule

Confidential I caught up with Enoka this week to confirm that he is no longer working with Chelsea as a mental skills specialist.

His deal with the Blues has effectively ended as his consultancy contract was only on a short-term basis.

See you on the spoons!

Stamford Bridge is set to get its own Wetherspoons with Confidential said this summer will see the opening of a new pub called Walham Green in time for the 2025-26 season.

JD Wetherspoon has been given approval in mid-2024 for a site at 472 Fulham Road, situated in the grade II-listed former ticket office next to Fulham Broadway overground station and a few minutes’ walk from the bridge (or maybe 10 minutes if you’ve had a few too many IPAs).

New Wetherspoons blueprints set to be in place for 2025-26 season

Wetherspoons will be located in the former ticket office listed in Part II, next to Fulham Broadway underground station and a few minutes’ walk from the bridge

While no official date has been set yet, we’re told you can expect to be able to reel in your latest spoons when the next season kicks off in August.

It was originally thought to open in early 2025 to capitalize on football footfall.

While no official date has been set, we’re told you can expect to be able to reel in your latest spoons when the next season kicks off in August. Anyone for a beer?

But a blow to the new stadium

Chelsea’s Pitch Owners’ Council meets regularly with senior club officials and last month’s PPO annual general meeting offered some insight into the stadium situation.

The options are a complete rebuild of Stamford Bridge, a tin rebuild, or to move to a new site, with Earls Court regularly in place.

CPO chairman Chris Isitt said in his AGM statement: ‘Whatever outcome is proposed, the timeline of the rebuilding project will extend well into the future.’

ISITT added: ‘We understand that no decision has yet been made and that a decision is not imminent, however we continue to ensure that the company and its shareholders have a voice and play a full role in the next steps.

“I would like to remind shareholders that, in accordance with the company’s articles of association, the CPO was established to ensure that football continues to be played at Stamford Bridge by a team called Chelsea FC.”

Bomtor Scouting Mission

It’s not just men who are targeting young contracts, but women too.

Chelsea women’s manager Sonia Bompastor made the most of the international break by attending England’s Under-23s game with France at Stevenage on Tuesday night.

The French coach was seen with her assistant Camille Abily – who she revealed last week she is in a long-term relationship with – and they watched from the stands as London City Lions striker Isobel Goodwin scored the only goal to seal the win for Emma Coates’ Young Lionesses.

Sonia Bompastora, who is keeping an eye on the young Lionesses, with England senior coach Sarina Wiegman

The only Chelsea player involved in either squad was 19-year-old midfielder Ashanti Akpan, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City and was an unused substitute on the night.

Of course, Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones – one of the most exciting youngsters in football right now – was the standout star of the under-23s last year and Bomtor knows all too well the value of bringing in young talent to strengthen the ever-improving Blues squad.

Aggie Beever-Jones is one of Chelsea and England’s most exciting talents

Maresca Canteen Summit for All Employees

More information about this meeting called by Enzo Maresca at Chelsea’s training ground.

As well as the kitchen workers, groundsmen, kitmen and all other support staff who were told by Kevin Campello – the club’s head of first-team operations – to be in the canteen for 10am, it is confidentially said co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart were also there.

Maresca delivered a speech designed to drive unity at Cobham and now, no one can be under any illusions that the club are aiming for anything less than Champions League football.

Contributor: Tara Anson-Walsh