TIMO WILL NOT FAZE TAM a battle
Abraham’s ready for
JOE COLE believes Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham won’t be intimidated by £47.8million new arrival Timo Werner.
And the ex-stamford Bridge star is sure Abraham and the rest of Frank Lampard’s squad will step up to the challenge of an influx of big-money signings as Chelsea splash the cash.
The Blues have emerged from football’s shutdown with all guns blazing after buying RB Leipzig goal-machine Werner.
Shake-up
That followed the signing of £37m Ajax winger
Hakin Ziyech in February before lockdown.
And with German wonder-kid Kai Havertz and Leicester and England full-back Ben Chilwell also on Lampard’s radar, the squad shake-up is turning up the heat on Chelsea stars. “That is the nature of the beast, if you are at any big club” says Cole, now an academy coach at
Chelsea.
“You know there’s a whole team of people in the scouting network scouring the world looking for someone to come in to take your job, to do your job better than you within the team.
“So players at the top level should know that is normal at a club like Chelsea.
“If you cannot accept that reality you should not be playing for such a massive club, that’s the reason why certain players stay at middle clubs – because they get comfortable in that position.
“Certainly the lads who have come through the system at Chelsea who I’ve got to know over the years, their attitude and education that they have been based on, they will embrace the challenge. Tammy Abraham will embrace the challenge of Werner (below) coming in and will improve as his attitude is second to none.
“And Frank understands the importance of competitive squads to drive you on and push you.
Improve
“I think the players will accept it as part of the reality of playing for Chelsea and it will improve them, I believe in that.”
Cole believes adding Chilwell would be a smart move.
“Similar to Werner he fits the ethos – he is young, he’s hungry, he’s explosive and athletic and I
THE Premier League is back on BT Sport, with Newcastle v Aston Villa and Wolves v Bournemouth on Wednesday from 5.45pm, and Chelsea v Man City on Thursday from 7.30pm. Watch all 20 BT Sport Premier League games contract free with the BT Sport Monthly pass, just £25 per month. really like Ben. I think he’s got a lot of talent, if he comes to Chelsea, working with the group there – in Brendan he’s got a great manager and a great team up at Leicester.
“But Chelsea’s a step up from Leicester. I know they are sitting above Chelsea in the table at the moment, but having the opportunity to work with Frank and improve would be immense for him.
“He’s got the left-back position for England in his hands at the moment.
“My advice would be to keep performing, keep consistent and if he does do that he can be England’s left-back and if he does come to Chelsea, Chelsea’s left -back for many years.”
With Chelsea desperate to cement a Champions League place the importance of beating Villa is clear – and Cole believes they will, adding: “I’m not sure Villa can beat anyone at the moment.”