It’s no secret that Chelsea do not have the best reputation when it comes to bringing youth players up to the first team. However, the talent has always been present, and a question on many fans’ lips is, why have we not seen this talent promoted to the first team?
Another question surrounding Chelsea at the moment is, how do they go about strengthening a squad that has just won the Barclays Premier League and the Capital One Cup?
With ambitions of Champions League glory the main focus for next season, does Mourinho trust his youngsters enough to not spend big this summer? Or with rumours suggesting a move for Radamel Falcao, another ‘raid’ of Atletico Madrid, even a move for Robert Green; is the Blues boss looking to reach into the deep pockets of club owner Roman Abramovich?
Whilst one or two signings may be required to replace the likes of Petr Cech and perhaps Didier Drogba, maybe it is time to finally graduate a number of academy players into the first team.
Despite the inordinate array of young talent that has passed through Chelsea’s academy system in the past decade; not since 1998, when a certain John Terry made his Chelsea debut, has an academy graduate truly cemented their place in the side.
Whilst glimpses of young brilliance have been seen by Blues fans over the years, a stuttering development consisting of continuous spells out on loan, alongside Chelsea bringing ‘big-name’ players into the club, has resulted in the Blues having a stockpile of young talent at their disposal, with no room to integrate them into the first team.
However, following a brilliant season for Chelsea’s youngsters, with the youth side winning their fourth FA Youth Cup since 2010, alongside victory in the UEFA Youth League final against Shakhtar Donetsk, calls to promote some of the young talent at the Blues disposal have gathered momentum.
And with the Barclays Premier League crown secure with three games to spare, Mourinho slowly began to blood some of Chelsea’s brightest youth players.
19-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is said to become a key player for the Blues, made an impressive full debut against Liverpool, whilst 18-year-old Isaiah Brown, who captained and scored a brace in Chelsea’s UEFA Youth League final victory, made his full debut in the penultimate game of the season against his former club, West Brom.
Defender Andreas Christensen made his league debut in the final game of the season, after making his Chelsea debut in the Capital One Cup fourth round against Shrewsbury.
And Chelsea opened their post-season tour with a 1-0 victory over the Thailand All-Stars thanks to a goal from 17-year-old Dominic Solanke. Mourinho fielded two completely different teams in both halves of the game, including a number of youth team players in either half.
Solanke has enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal, scoring 41 goals in all competitions at youth level, and he became Chelsea’s youngest ever player to play in the Champions League earlier this season, after making his debut against NK Maribor.
Furthermore, the likes of Patrick Bamford and Lewis Baker have both enjoyed successful spells on loan this season at Middlesbrough and MK Dons respectively, adding to the number of youngsters with potential at Stamford Bridge.
So the talent that Mourinho has at his disposal is clear for all to see. And after a very successful season for the first team, youth teams and certain players on loan, has there ever been a better chance to give a number of youth players a chance?
