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<\/p>\nThe Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior has dismissed allegations that the French club exist to feed Chelsea before his side face Crystal Palace in the Conference League.<\/p>\n
Both clubs are owned by BlueCo \u2014 the consortium led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss \u2014 and have openly traded players in recent seasons, but Chelsea appear to have been made the priority. <\/p>\n
Although Strasbourg signed five players from Chelsea during the summer, including the experienced left back Ben Chilwell on a permanent deal, much of their transfer business has been done with the Premier League side in mind \u2014 with the Ligue 1 club developing young talent.<\/p>\n
They have three players under the age of 21 \u2014 Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry P\u00e1ez \u2014 on loan from Chelsea this season, while Emanuel Emegha, the 22-year-old Netherlands striker who has scored 29 goals in 69 games since joining Strasbourg from Strum Graz in 2023, will move to Stamford Bridge next summer. <\/p>\n
Julio Enciso, 21, who joined the French side on a four-year deal from Brighton & Hove Albion in August, is set to follow the same pathway. However, Rosenior insists Strasbourg, who are fifth in Ligue 1, are not Chelsea\u2019s B team. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many clubs in the world that have multi-club ownership, sister clubs, or whatever you want to call it,\u201d Rosenior, 41, said. \u201cWe are definitely not Chelsea B. We are a football club in our own right, who are performing with by far the youngest squad in Europe. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a group of players who run, fight for the shirt and make the club proud. I try to reflect the values of the area the best I possibly can. This club has its own traditions in its own right, which the players have magnificently defended. <\/p>\n
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Chilwell is Strasbourg\u2019s only outfield player older than 23<\/p>\n
SATHIRE KELPA\/GETTY<\/p>\n
\u201cChelsea are a huge football club with a huge tradition. It\u2019s easy for people to make those assumptions and accusations. The reality is Chelsea and Strasbourg are two absolutely gigantic football clubs in their countries and have been very successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Chilwell believes making England\u2019s World Cup squad would be \u201cthe biggest middle finger to so many people\u201d, and has been told by Thomas Tuchel that he could be selected for next summer\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
The left back, 28, earned the most recent of his 21 England caps in March 2024, but feels rejuvenated at Strasbourg. Having been dropped to Chelsea\u2019s \u201cbomb squad\u201d \u2014 the group of players exiled from first-team training by the head coach, Enzo Maresca \u2014 Chilwell moved to France and has started all but three of Strasbourg\u2019s league games since then. He is also set to face Palace, for whom he played on loan last season, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Chilwell, then, thinks World Cup selection is possible and would mean vindication.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a story it would be if I went to the World Cup after I was in the bomb squad and everyone had counted me out 12 months prior,\u201d Chilwell told BBC Sport. \u201cIt would just be the biggest middle finger to so many people, which to me is a motivation. Chelsea<\/a> were honest with me and there\u2019s no resentment, but of course I\u2019ve got an ego, so it would be a nice feeling to prove some people wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt makes me laugh that people think I\u2019m an old player at 28 \u2014 I\u2019m really in my prime. That\u2019s why the World Cup is an ambition \u2026 there\u2019s so much to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
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