“This summer!” – David Ornstein names position he’s certain Chelsea will strengthen | OneFootball

We all know how the media works these days, and football is just a more concentrated version – the central figures, whether that’s owners, players, agents or whoever, pick their favourite journalists and leak them selective information, in return for making them look good.

These “briefings” are what you’ve got to watch out for, and they’re pretty obvious when they come along. It can be very clear when a journalist is just writing what they’ve been told as opposed to adding at least the veneer of a critical edge.

David Ornstein gets great insider transfer information, and in return sometimes has to pass on a message from those who have elected him as their outlet. His words on Chelsea’s current project in the Athletic Q and A yesterday smell very briefing-like to us as he tripped over himself to defend the ownership and their current model:

“Compared to most of their rivals, Chelsea’s project is still in its relative infancy and the team are doing better now than previously under this ownership,” he begins.

“Yes, there has been a disappointing fall-off and perhaps some regrets from the January window – but Chelsea are now back in the top four and their next couple of games should bring progress in Europe and the Premier League…. I get the frustration on a perceived lack of experience, but many successful teams have shown experience doesn’t necessarily mean older players and you only build experience by playing… I can tell you that from talking to rival clubs, increasingly they are speaking well of what Chelsea have done and are doing – i.e. the quality of signings, age profile, contract lengths, wage bill, Maresca appointment, multi-club entry with Strasbourg etc. It is never nice to be told to be patient but I think that’s required… it feels like we need to give it more time before forming concrete judgements.

Ornstein doesn’t let fans go home without transfer party bag

David Ornstein on Zoom.

For those of you who are only here for the transfer news, Ornstein did manage to squeeze some of that in too:

“Oh and I’d expect a striker to be signed this summer!”

That also smells like something that’s been dropped in to placate frustrated fans.