'Everything is either sideways or a downgrade' - Chelsea fans protest club board ahead of Brentford clash

"Dozens of Chelsea FC supporters rallied in London on Saturday against the club's board, protesting ownership decisions ahead of the Premier League clash with Brentford and accusing management of abandoning the club's elite standards. Footage shows fans chanting 'We want our Chelsea back' and 'F*ck off, Eghbali', waving flags and holding placards reading 'Take your dodgy deals some place else!' and '10,600km from Malaysia. Eghbali, leave our club!' as police monitor the protest. "They're not running this club like a proper elite football club. They're treating us like Brighton. The signings they're making, the manager appointments. Everything about this club is either sideways or a downgrade," proclaimed a demonstrator. Another protester claimed, "The way they're treating fans, their model, if I could go into more detail, their model is more business side, neglecting the football side, buying unproven players, hiring unproven managers, no sense of direction," adding that fans want clearer communication on where the club is heading over the next five years. The protest underscores mounting unrest among supporters under the club's new ownership, driven by frustration over spending, recruitment and on-pitch results in the Premier League. Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Brentford FC in their Premier League meeting, taking all three points amid ongoing scrutiny."