\n<\/p>\n
Strasbourg head coach Gary O\u2019Neil has told Chelsea owners BlueCo that they \u201cmessed up\u201d during the winter transfer window.<\/p>\n
Having been on course for an impressive Coupe de France and Conference double at one point, Strasbourg were eliminated at the last-four stage of both competitions in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
And, having secured just four points from their last four Ligue 1 outings, they can now finish no higher than eighth in France\u2019s top flight, meaning no European football next season.<\/p>\n
After a campaign that showed so much promise under Liam Rosenior, initially, and then O\u2019Neil, when he took over in January, the latter launched a scathing attack on the club\u2019s owners and his first-team squad.<\/p>\n
READ: Jose Mourinho \u2018ready\u2019 for Real Madrid move but Chelsea told to launch stunning hijack<\/strong><\/p>\n O\u2019Neil was handed the role after Rosenior was plucked from Strasbourg by BlueCo to take over at sister club Chelsea, but feels big mistakes were made in the winter transfer window that have impacted their end of season.<\/p>\n As quoted by The Team<\/em>O\u2019Neil also emphasised that \u2018changes need to be made to the club culture\u2019, a feeling that has been mentioned a fair few times about Chelsea too.<\/p>\n Following a 1-1 draw with Angers at the weekend, an unhappy O\u2019Neil said:\u00a0\u201cWe have to really work a lot this summer to be better. We have already held meetings about recruitment.<\/p>\n \u201cI need two centre-forwards. The owners want to give me the means to perform next season, but we have to improve the culture around the club, the quality of the players, and the depth of the squad. We messed up in the January transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n On performance in the 1-1 draw against Angers, O\u2019Neil added: \u201cI am angry; I hope that the players are, too. There are two matches left and they have to show me that they have to level to play with us next season. But we won\u2019t get anywhere playing like that.<\/p>\n \u201cThey really disappointed me, even more so than on Thursday (and the defeat to Rayo Vallecano). They have to do better. The world of football is full of sharks. They need to know that. I told them that we were playing a final and they didn\u2019t play like they had to.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil certainly wasn\u2019t helped by leading marksman Joaquin Panichelli suffering a serious knee injury in March, while Chelsea-bound Emanuel Emegha has struggled with injury issues throughout 2026 so far.<\/p>\n READ NEXT: The six hardest manager jobs in world football as Real Madrid dressing room explodes<\/strong><\/p>\n Stamford Bridge loanee David Datro Fofana has also struggled, failing to score in any of his nine appearances to date, that only include three starts.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil now holds an overall record of 11 wins, six draws and eight defeats from 25 matches since he replaced Rosenior.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nAngry O\u2019Neil calls out BlueCo over Strasbourg issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n