Referring to Chelsea, Arsene Wenger says managers should have control over player’s contract
Arsene Wenger has asserted that the next Chelsea manager should have more authority over player signings and their contract renewals.
Todd Boehly has signed new Blues players to long-term contracts since assuming control of Chelsea, including Enzo Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk, which has drawn criticism.
Two managers have already been fired from the Blues after a dismal start to the season, and now Chelsea have named Frank Lampard as interim manager until the conclusion of the current campaign as they search for the next head coach.
The Blues were also eliminated from the Champions League quarter-final by Real Madrid and are now sitting in 11th place in the Premier League standings.
It has been speculated that Luis Enrique and Julian Naglessmann are frontrunners to take charge of Chelsea’s head coach position. Wenger told Bein Sports, (h/t Express), that he believes the manager should have greater control over a player’s contract.”
“The advice that I give to young coaches on a new contract is to make sure what is important to you is clearly stated in your contract. That you are the only one. No one can buy a player without your agreement; nobody can interfere with the team, and you are solely responsible for managing the team.”
What Wenger stated is accurate since coaches should choose which players to keep or let go of at the club and which ones they should purchase who would work well for his system. Managers, not owners, should be in charge of making such player-related decisions.
Owners getting involved in a contract dispute will make the manager less knowledgeable and will negatively impact his current position. Moreover, the Blues handed long deals to players like Enzo Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk, David Datro Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in January.
These players have been tied down for at least six years here (at least!) while Graham Potter was sacked a couple of months later. The next manager and perhaps the ones after him/her will have to bear having those players in the squad even if they don’t want them.
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Wenger’s comments would also come as advice to whoever our next manager is – to make sure that he/she exercises total control over matters relating to signings and contracts of players. Without questioning Boehly’s footballing credentials, it is safe to say an experienced football manager would know more about the sport than him.
Constant interference in decision-making procedures can harm dressing room harmony and challenge the manager’s authority. It is important to draw the line somewhere. Roman Abramovich was clearly hands-on with his approach but he barely ever stepped over the line. Boehly can learn from him.