FUTURE IS NOW THE ACADEMY
GOOD news has been thin on the ground for Chelsea since the Government announced the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich.
But if there’s hope to be had, it comes in the form of the club’s academy system, which has developed into one of the world’s best.
During the early part of Abramovich’s time in charge, John Terry stood alone as one of the few players to come through the ranks.
On the same day that sanctions were announced, however, Chelsea featured three homegrown players in Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevoh Chalobah and Mason Mount against Norwich at Carrow Road. And England youth international Harvey Vale was on the bench.
Chalobah, in particular, looks set to play a critical part in the club’s future with Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta all set to leave this summer.
The centre-back has already made 16 Premier League appearances this season.
Many of the current crop of home-produced stars got their chance during Frank Lampard’s reign as he put his faith in a system that had delivered seven FA Youth Cups since 2009/10.
Chelsea’s run of five victories in successive years has only been matched once in history – by Manchester United’s Busby Babes between 1953 and 1957.
Chelsea are in the last four of this year’s competition, too, with Nottingham Forest standing between them and another final.
Given recent events, those players could get opportunities in the first team far quicker than they could ever have imagined.