Arsene Wenger has given his thoughts on how Chelsea will fare without Roman Abramovich as owner and provided some advice for whoever succeeds the Russian oligarch.
The billionaire announced that he was putting the Blues up for sale last week as the scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin intensifies in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
It is thought that Abramovich has set his asking price for the club at £3billion, though Wenger has admitted he feels that is slightly above market value.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Wenger was surprisingly full of praise for Abramovich despite the fact there is an argument his arrival in English football led to Arsenal eventually being left behind in the race for league titles.
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"I would say he was the first big investor [before] the Glazers to come in, at a golden period for a guy that was a billionaire. There was no Financial Fair Play, you could put as much money in as you wanted,’ the Frenchman explained.
"Today, with the FFP, I would not necessarily advise somebody to come in to fight against Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, who are lightyears ahead of them, to build a good team – because you cannot invest the money you want to invest.
"So it is much more difficult today. But he came in at the golden period and I give him credit.
"He understood quickly what to do, put competent people in charge who managed the club very well and put him to a level that is absolutely outstanding. I have a lot of respect for what he did."
Wenger admitted he doubts that whoever succeeds the Russian will be able to match his spending power.
"You cannot. Today you cannot put that money in, privately, that is impossible.
"It is limited to, I think, £200m over three years. At that time you could put a billion in.
"I always advised people who wanted to buy football clubs, instead of putting £100m in every year, put £500m in in the first year and buy the right players, then you have a team.
"He could do that and he did very well and today I think the club is managed very well and is at a top level."
The former Arsenal manager did issue a warning that the next owner will have to have a number of attributes if the Blues are to continue on their current trajectory of success.
"It is still sustainable as a football club today because they are at a good level. But after that when you come in it is down to money and good decisions.
"Sometimes people have good decisions but no money, sometimes they have money but they make bad decisions. So you have to put the two together."
