Although the Blues are still under a ban to sign any new players, with the current group they have, Chelsea could surprise this year and still find their way to a top-three finish.
There is without a doubt a lot of Chelsea supporters out there worried about their beloved team coming into this year’s Premier League campaign, which starts in just under a month. But with a handful of youngsters back at Stamford Bridge from loan spells and the core group of players left from last year, Chelsea could do better than people think.
Frank Lampard has proven to be a good manager with Derby County last season, and so far, there is a positive energy surrounding the club in their pre-season festivities that now have Chelsea playing exhibition matches in Japan. After all, Lampard is a club legend, so there is the utmost respect for him from every single player in the squad.
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We all know how much animosity surrounded the blues last season under Maurizio Sarri, with constant drama in the clubhouse that really didn’t help their performances on the pitch. Thankfully though, they were somehow able to finish in the third spot, qualifying for Champions League competition after missing out last year, even though it resulted in a Europa League trophy.
Despite their star player Eden Hazard gone to Real Madrid, they have enough quality in this side to be a competitor in the Premier League this year, both young and old.
Young guns will get their chance
With the transfer ban still in effect, Lampard has brought back several players from loan spells, including Mason Mount, who was with him at Derby last season, Tammy Abraham from Aston Villa, and Michy Batshuayi from Crystal Palace.
Mount, who has been with the club since he was a youngster, signed a five-year deal with Chelsea just a couple days ago, solidifying his future in West London. He was a rock in the midfield for Lampard on his loan spell at Derby last year, contributing eight goals and five assists in 35 appearances. His first official first-team appearance was in Ireland during Chelsea’s pre-season tour and he scored in his debut. If he continues to play at a high level and show his talents in the midfield, Mount will definitely get his chance to shine this season.
Tammy Abraham was absolutely lethal last season in the Championship for newly-promoted Aston Villa, bagging 26 goals in 40 appearances. Thanks to his impressive form on loan, he’s now back with his parent club, looking to make an impact. His physical presence and ability to finish in the final third should definitely come in handy this year alongside a similar type of striker in Michy Batshuayi.
Batshuayi signed with the blues way back in 2016 but has made just 32 appearances with the club since. Numerous loan spells along the way with Dortmund, Valencia, and Crystal Palace have landed him back at Stamford Bridge, ready to prove himself, especially with the striker positions up for the taking.
He’s shown his attacking abilities many times both for Belgium and at the club level but hasn’t really been given many chances to make an impact for Chelsea. But now, his time has come. Olivier Giroud is aging, making him more of a striker that will come on as a substitute in the second half of matches.
If Batshuayi can impress, a starting spot could be his this season alongside Tammy Abraham up front as well. They may not be huge stars, but I do believe these two can play well off each other and do some serious damage in the final third for the blues, especially with players like Willian, Christian Pulisic, and Pedro feeding them quality balls.
Billy Gilmour is another interesting prospect who could fight his way into seeing some minutes in the Chelsea midfield this season. The 18-year-old signed with the blues from Rangers back in 2017 and has spent most of his time since playing for Chelsea’s U-23 side, with players all older than him.
He has been with the club on their pre-season tour and has really impressed, showing a will to compete in the midfield. He has the versatility to play as a number 10 or simply a box to box midfielder, a trait that will help Gilmour find playing time with the first team in the very near future. Even Lampard praised his abilities to Chelseafc.com during their two matches in Ireland.
"“Billy Gilmour has had a brilliant trip. He’s a young lad but the personality he’s shown and to play in two games at the level he’s played has been great. I just hope he keeps on pushing like that this season.”-Lampard on Gilmour’s impressive first-team debut"
There is absolutely no doubt that all these youngsters will get their chance to contribute this year and it will be very exciting to see how they fare.
Core players still intact, plus Pulisic
With the regular players such as N’golo Kante, Pedro, Willian, Mateo Kovacic, among others all still with the club, Chelsea has a similar look minus Hazard. But now they have former Dortmund starlet Christian Pulisic, who will bring a lot of excitement on the flanks. He brings an attacking flair and an ability to score goals and set them up and hopefully, he can do just that at Stamford Bridge in his first Premier League season. Their defence is basically the same as well led by David Luiz.
If it wasn’t for the transfer ban these young players probably wouldn’t be getting as many chances to prove themselves, but because of it, the opportunities are theirs for the taking. I think with the quality all of these players bring to the table, both veterans and youngsters, Chelsea will be in good hands this year and will still be a competitive side at the top of the table.