Strasbourg manager Gary O'Neil has launched a scathing attack on both his players and the club's owners, BlueCo, following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Angers. O'Neil, who moved to France in January after leaving Bournemouth, expressed his frustration at the lack of quality in his squad and the failure to strengthen during the winter transfer window.
O'Neil's Criticism of Transfer Policy
Speaking to L'Equipe, O'Neil did not hold back: 'We messed up in January, during the transfer window. We weakened ourselves instead of strengthening the team.' He emphasized the need for two new strikers in the summer, stating, 'I need two strikers. The owners want to give me the resources to perform next season. But we also need to improve the club culture, the quality of the players, and the squad depth.'
Strasbourg are owned by BlueCo, the same consortium that owns Chelsea, fronted by Todd Boehly. O'Neil's comments suggest a strained relationship with the ownership, as he believes they failed to support him adequately in January.
Anger at Players After Angers Draw
O'Neil's frustration boiled over after the 1-1 draw, where he lambasted his players for their performance. 'We didn't do enough to win, we didn't have the quality for it. We got what we deserved. Monaco lost and we had the opportunity to close the gap on them. We blew it,' he said. 'It's kind of a symbol of our season. We can do so much better. I'm angry. I hope the players are too. There are two games left and they have to show me they're good enough to play with us next year. But with a performance like tonight, we won't achieve anything playing like that.'
The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss added: 'They disappointed me so much, even more than on Thursday. They have to do better. Football is a shark tank, they need to realize that. I told them we were playing a Cup final and we really didn't play the way we should have.'
BlueCo's Decision at Chelsea
Meanwhile, BlueCo faces a crucial decision regarding Chelsea's permanent manager. Interim boss Calum McFarlane has struggled, with Chelsea slipping to ninth in the Premier League. Bookmakers have Xabi Alonso as the favorite to take over, ahead of Filipe Luis and Andoni Iraola. With an FA Cup final against Manchester City and two league matches remaining, Chelsea risk missing out on European football entirely.
