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Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea’s decision to redevelop Stamford Bridge will help take the club on to another level.
Chelsea have abandoned plans to build a ground elsewhere and are looking to turn their home of 110 years into a 60,000 all-seater.
The stadium holds 41,837, making it only the eighth largest in the top flight and the club will fall down that list when West Ham move into the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium next summer. Tottenham will also overtake the Blues when White Hart Lane is redeveloped with the new ground possibly holding as many as 61,000 fans.
Chelsea’s scheme is still in its infancy and is several years from coming to fruition but they have invited fans and local residents to an exhibition of ideas for the rebuild from June 30-July 2.
Mourinho is convinced it is the right move to ensure the club carry on competing with the elite.
“I think it’s the next step for Chelsea,” said the manager. “Chelsea won four Premier Leagues in the last decade, we’ve become a huge club. Stamford Bridge is always full and we feel that need [to expand].
“I trust Mr [Roman] Abramovich and the board. I don’t think too much about these details — my focus is the work on the pitch. We will have capacity for more fans and I think that is what Chelsea are waiting for.”
The work will not be easy because the site is only 12 acres, when 20 acres is regarded as the ideal size to build a ground for 60,000 people.
An added complication is that there are railway tracks and West Brompton cemetery close to the ground, making it a challenge for the club to improve the access into their home.
Chelsea will also have to decide whether to ground-share while the work is being done — Twickenham and Wembley are the main options — or to stay at Stamford Bridge as each stand is worked on one at a time.
