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Gary O\u2019Neil has ruined his chances of becoming Chelsea\u2019s next manager \u2013 the natural next step for the current Strasbourg boss \u2013 as he took aim at owners BlueCo for \u201cmessing up\u201d the Ligue 1 side\u2019s season.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neil took the Strasbourg reins in January after Chelsea poached Liam Rosenior from their sister club following the sacking of Enzo Maresca.<\/p>\n
After losing just two of his first 16 games in charge, seeing Strasbourg through to the semi-finals of the Conference League and the Coupe to France while maintaining a charge for European qualification again next season, the wheels have fallen off in the last month.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve won just two of their last 11, been knocked out of both cup competitions and now can\u2019t qualify for Europe. It\u2019s been a slump not dissimilar to the one suffered by Chelsea under Rosenior which saw him sacked after just 106 days in charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Fans of both clubs united in a joint protest against BlueCo \u2013 a consortium led by Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly \u2013 outside Stamford Bridge last month and O\u2019Neil broke ranks to take aim at the owners following his side\u2019s 1-1 draw with Angers.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil told The Team<\/em>: \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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe messed up in the January transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n Reflecting on his team\u2019s recent performance, O\u2019Neil let rip.<\/p>\n \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,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n \u201cThey really disappointed me, even more so than on Thursday (against 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 Striker David Datro Fofana and centre-back Aaron Anselmino joined on loan from Chelsea, but influential loanee Mamadou Sarr was recalled by the Blues and has made just six appearances, while teenage forward Kendry Paez had his season-long loan cut short by Chelsea, only to be immediately loaned back out to River Plate.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Ranking 24 BlueCo mistakes at Chelsea as Rosenior appointment joins three sackings<\/strong><\/p>\n History suggests O\u2019Neil won\u2019t last at Strasbourg. Maresca was sent packing from Chelsea for far less egregious or direct criticism of BlueCo. And he\u2019s also ruined his chances of taking over at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n Xabi Alonso is now thought to be a \u201cleading contender\u201d<\/strong> to drink next from the poisoned Blues chalice, but as Rosenior proved, O\u2019Neil had a massive advantage over many far more qualified managers to take charge midway through next season as manager of Chelsea\u2019s ugly sister club when Alonso, or whoever\u2019s the next pasty, inevitably falls foul of the failing project.<\/p>\n Not now though, after leading Strasbourg in a slide and \u2013 not unreasonably \u2013 blaming BlueCo for it.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n