There are so many problems at Chelsea at present. They’re not doing well in the league, Maurizio Sarri hasn’t been able to have the desired impact in London, and many players are performing well below par. However, these are all short-term issues.
There are longer-term problems that are over the heads of the Chelsea first team, and perhaps the most prominent example of that is in the form of young players.
Indeed, the Blues haven’t paid enough attention to youngsters in recent weeks, instead preferring to focus on more experienced talent, but now it’s coming back to bite them.
Much was made about Callum Hudson-Odoi’s potential move to Bayern Munich in January, and though the Blues have since kept onto him, not much has changed with regards to his position in the periphery of the Blues’ squad.
He said: “From Turam to Desailly…to Zidane…they all played at 18. This has changed, that’s not possible anymore. Big players are concentrated in a small number of clubs, and to get a position in there is absolutely difficult.”
He continued: “That’s why we see that phenomenon, where the players leave [their clubs] early.”
Big clubs hoarding players has stunted the development of young players in England.#beINUCL #beINWenger pic.twitter.com/lFi0dipfOd
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 13, 2019
Wenger is talking within the context of the rise of Jaden Sancho, who of course moved from Man City to Borussia Dortmund as a teenager. He’s since emerged as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, and that just goes to show what some of Chelsea’s young players – like Hudson-Odoi – could be doing.
The situation in Germany is, of course, slightly different, given how competitive the Premier League is, but Wenger’s argument remains. Clubs – like Chelsea, in this case – are hoarding players and having some of Europe’s best on the bench, as opposed to giving those opportunities to youngsters. The reality is that it’s not possible for young players to get a chance not because they aren’t good enough – but it’s just a lack of faith from big teams like Chelsea. It’s as simple as that.
The solution here, then, would be to stop spending big money on average players like Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta, and instead hand those chances to players like Mason Mount and Reece James.
Of course, we all know that that’s never going to happen at Chelsea, but the Blues still need to hear Wenger’s warning. If they don’t, not only may Hudson-Odoi leave – but he may be the first of many.
Thoughts?
