Chelsea should be looking to keep their cards close to their chest when it comes to the future of Matt Miazga.
When the young American signed for Chelsea in January, it was reported that the defender would remain at the club until the end of the season. During that period, the club would have the chance to look at him and evaluate where he is at in terms of his development.
From their findings, it would then be decided whether or not he should be sent out on loan to gain first team exposure if he wasn’t going to get it at Stamford Bridge next season.
After watching Miazga on his Premier League debut against Aston Villa, (yes I know, Aston Villa) it’s clear that there is some real talent inside the former New York Red Bulls defender. Almost straight away, it feels like the same situation we found ourselves in with Kurt Zouma just a few months ago.
Matt Miazga’s game by numbers vs Aston Villa:
6 clearances
4 aerial duels won
3 tackles won
3 blocks
1 interception pic.twitter.com/30CZxbMmXJ— Squawka (@Squawka) April 2, 2016
Albeit Zouma was loaned back to Saint-Etienne straight after signing for the club, he was brought back into the squad as a rotation option in Jose Mourinho’s second season back at the club.
He may not have been featuring every game for the Blues, but he was in and around the squad, gaining great experience in a title winning team. An experience which some would argue could be of a far greater value than playing for a different team in a different league for a season.
Miazga’s debut against Villa showcased his ability and talent. At this stage in time, it may be raw talent that requires a little bit of guidance. Which is the type he will get, like Zouma, by working with the likes of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, both experienced defenders who know the club so well.
We have seen this season how well Zouma has benefited from his first season at Chelsea, he had become a regular under Guus Hiddink before suffering a horrendous season-ending injury against Manchester United.
If it wasn’t for that injury, it could well have been Zouma who partnered Miazga on his debut at Villa Park.
The future of the entire Chelsea defence is up in the air the moment, with it yet to be seen if John Terry will get a new contract from the Chelsea board. As well as this, Antonio Conte’s arrival could also shake things up further.
Conte will want to merge the team to his likings, which could mean changes in the defence, be that a back four, or even a back three. If Conte doesn’t fancy Miazga as part of his squad, then a loan may be the only option, but from what we have seen, there is plenty of potential there to build a very talented defender.
Miazga, who recently commented on how he is enjoying the start to his career at Chelsea, looks to have all the tools available to him to forge a great career at Stamford Bridge if his debut is anything to go by, let’s hope that continues.
