CHELSEA fans have slammed the club for their treatment of Champions League hero Ben Chilwell.
Some supporters are furious that Chilwell was relegated to the “bomb squad” with other unwanted players like Raheem Sterling and then sold to sister club Strasbourg without proper recognition from the Blues.
PAChelsea have denounced Ben Chilwell’s treatment by Chelsea following his departure[/caption]
GettyEnzo Maresca was keen to move Chilwell on this summer, and he has now joined sister club Strasbourg[/caption]
SunSport revealed how Sterling, Chilwell and other exiled players like Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu were forced to use separate training, changing and toilet facilities from the first-team squad – and weren’t even allowed to eat with Enzo Maresca’s squad.
Chilwell, in an emotional goodbye video posted on social media, said: “Of course it’s not the way I would have loved things to have ended here after such great memories.”
And when Chelsea’s official Instagram account replied “Good luck, Chilly”, some fans hit back angrily at the club.
One wrote: “Shame how you treated him in the end. Deserved much better.”
Another said: “Disgusting. The best LB in the world treated like s**t for no reason!”
Other comments included, “The way this club has treated you”, “You guys did him soo dirty”, and “Terrible goodbye from the club for him. He got a post just confirming he left. Shocking.”
But one supporter responded to the criticism of Chelsea by saying: “Sometimes I don’t understand some fans…You fans ask for a rebuild and the board are doing that so what is you guys problem?”
Meanwhile current Chelsea captain Reece James led the fond farewells from Chilwell’s past and present team-mates at Stamford Bridge.
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James, who is now the only member of the 2021 Champions League final squad still playing for the club, said: “Ma boy man, we been though [sic] so much together.
“We won a number of trophies together, we were sidelined through injury together…both the highest of the highs and the lower of lows in football.
Reece James is the only player remaining from the team that won the Champions League
“It’s been a pleasure sharing the pitch with you for the years we did, so sad to see you leave man.
“Stay well brother and good luck with your next chapter.”
A number of other current Chelsea players, including Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, also responded to Chilwell.
Former team-mates also paid tribute, with Manchester United’s Mason Mount saying: “Don’t get many better than you brother, as a player and more importantly as a person. True professional.”
Chilwell spoke in his goodbye video of his pride in joining Chelsea and helping them win trophies, especially the Champions League.
CHELSEA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL SQUAD 2021 – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
EDOUARD MENDY, now 33
Joined Saudi side Al-Ahli for £16m in 2023
CESAR AZPILICUETA, 36
Left for Atletico Madrid on a free in 2022, now at Sevilla
THIAGO SILVA, 40
Rejoined former club Fluminense on a free in 2024
ANTONIO RUDIGER, 32
Contract expired in 2022 when he joined for Real Madrid
REECE JAMES, 25
Still at club, now captain
BEN CHILWELL, 28
Joined Chelsea sister club Strasbourg on deadline day
N’GOLO KANTE, 34
Left for Saudi club Al-Ittihad for undisclosed fee in 2023
JORGINHO, 33
Bought by Arsenal for £12m in 2023, now back in Brazil with Flamengo
KAI HAVERTZ, 26
Another to leave for the Gunners in 2023, for £65m
MASON MOUNT, 26
Sold to Manchester United for £55m in 2023
TIMO WERNER, 26
Returned to RB Leipzig in 2022 for £25m, spent a season and half on loan at Spurs 2024-5
SUBS
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA, 30
Loans at Real Madrid and Bournemouth before joining Arsenal for £5m this summer
WILLY CABALLERO, 43
Had two years at Southampton 2021-3, returned to Chelsea as a coach in 2024
MARCOS ALONSO, 34
Left by mutual consent in 2022, had two years at Barcelona, now at Celta Vigo
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN, 29
Joined Barca on a free transfer in 2022
KURT ZOUMA, 30
Went to West Ham for £30m in 2021, had four years there including cat-kicking incident, just joined Romanian side CFR Cluj
EMERSON, 31
After loan at Lyon, sold to West Ham for £13m in 2022, went to Marseille this summer
CHRISTIAN PULISIC, 26,
Sold to AC Milan in 2023 for £20m
MATEO KOVACIC, 31
Joined Manchester City for £25m in January 2023
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI, 24
Former golden boy had a loan at Leverkusen then went to Nottingham Forest for an initial £3m in 2023
HAKIM ZIYECH, 32
Sold to Galatasaray in 2023 for £3m after initial loan, now at Qatari club Al-Duhail
BILLY GILMOUR, 24
After Norwich loan and two years at Brighton, won Serie A with Napoli last season
OLIVIER GIROUD, 38
Had three seasons at AC Milan, then one at MLS side Los Angeles FC, before returning to France to join Lille this summer
He also thanks his team-mates and Blues fans for helping him through the tough times when he was injured and when dad Wayne died in 2023.
Chilwell said: “Throughout my time at Chelsea the support the fans have given me has been something I will never forget.
“That’s the biggest thanks I want to give – making memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“I had some tough times while I was at Chelsea.
“I had some really bad injuries, I lost my dad.
“The one thing that will stick with me is the brothers I met along the way that helped me through it. I’ll always be grateful for that.
“Now It’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my journey, push myself again at another club and go and enjoy my football again.”
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