When Roman Abramovic took control of Chelsea in the summer of 2003, he had a vision for constructing an empire. A dynasty. Such were the funds available to then Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri that many considered this vision to be a formality.
In football, however, nothing is forever. Abramovich’s personal wealth, whilst still considerable, has receded and his interest in the three-time Premier League champions has apparently dwindled – the pot of funds that once financed 200 million pounds worth of transfers in little over 12 months, now baulks at the prospect of offering players over 30 such as Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti new contracts.
Such has been the dependency on a core of players over the last three years that the drip feed of youngsters into the Chelsea team simply has not happened in the way Arsenal and Manchester United have been able to blood fresh players every season. One of Jose Mourinho’s secondary crusades was to attempt to bring some young players through the youth set up during his time at the Bridge. Players like Michael Woods, Steven Watt and Michael Mancienne have been given a sample of life in the big time, only to be farmed out before a true indication of their abilities is garnered.
It is with this backdrop that Carlo Ancelotti began this season with one of the smallest squads in the division. His brief from the watching Abramovic has been to incorporate the youth team players on the fringe of the squad and forge a successful, Champions League winning team out of next to nothing. Surely an impossible task.
In terms of starting XI, the Chelsea side being put out each week remains strong. Potentially lacking in pace and creativity at key times, however, there is no doubt that this is not a side to be languishing in fifth having taken only 11 points from their last 10 league games.
The lack of depth has, nevertheless, meant that changing games going against the champions has proven very tough for Ancelotti. Whilst undoubtedly displaying high levels of technical ability with ball at their feet, players like Gael Kakuta, Daniel Sturridge and Ramires have lacked the physical presence to force their agenda onto games in the manner Michael Ballack or Claude Makelele were able to do.
There has been some faith shown in players like Kakuta, the controversially acquired French youngster recently signed a new long-term deal at the club, Abramovich learning from allowing Glen Johnson and Lassana Diarra to leave West London before a fair picture of their worth was gathered. This has not always extended to giving players more of the spotlight.
It has not helped that Ancelotti’s team selection has hardly been consistent with a man trying to give exposure to his youngsters. In fact, up until making his Premier League debut against Aston Villa last weekend, it appeared that the Italian would rather play a current day Paul Merson at the heart of the Chelsea defence rather than young Jeffrey Bruma.
Josh McEachran has been given some match time, however I remember writing previously that I believed Ancelotti not to trust the boy in big games – this has remained the case. Having only played 68 minutes of Premier League football this term, McEachran is still an unknown quantity as we head into the second half of the season.
It would surely be stunningly naïve for the club’s hierarchy to decide that their resounding 7-0 win over Ipswich at the weekend has cured the ills that have dogged the side since October. That being said, this transfer window is sure to test the Blues’ long-term goal of financial self-sufficiency as they will surely look to add some power, both creative and physical, to their midfield. To suggest anything else will only fuel fears amongst fans that a first finish outside of the top four since 2002 could be on the cards.
With UEFA financial restrictions also on the horizon, these players must be persevered with, and regardless of who is jetted in to rescue the Blues’ season, the maligned youth of Chelsea with have to play a role if the club is to taste any success in 2011.
Written by Cameron Sharpe for FootballFanCast.com. See the original article here
