We are just Chelsea B team - French club declares

Strasbourg Supporters' Club member Alexandre Hummel has expressed his discontent over the club's relationship with Chelsea, stating that Strasbourg has become a mere "Chelsea B team."

Hummel's comments come as Strasbourg prepares to send defender Mamadou Sarr to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £11.9m. This transfer has sparked concerns among fans that Strasbourg is being used as a feeder club for Chelsea.

The French club was taken over by BlueCo, a company with links to Chelsea's owner Todd Boehly, in 2021.

Since then, fans have grown increasingly uneasy about the influence of the London-based club on Strasbourg's operations.

Hummel lamented the loss of Strasbourg's local identity.

He said, “Strasbourg doesn't exist from the sporting point of view. We are just Chelsea B team. Strasbourg is the only professional club in Alsace. There is a strong connection to the local identity, a mix of French and Germanic culture.

"They use Strasbourg so they can buy a player earlier than they would have otherwise and they pay a lower transfer fee.

Despite the concerns, some Chelsea players on loan at Strasbourg, such as goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic and winger Andrey Santos, have become integral to the team's success this season.