We need to learn lessons fast. That was a chuffed Frank Lampard’s reaction to the first home win in the league last weekend, as the Blue Kindergarten continues to flourish.
He is trying to keep his youngsters grounded, while also taking huge pleasure in their naïve exuberance, and has entrusted them with delivering in Europe as well as domestically. But he knows they have to get up to top-flight speed quickly.
Thanks to selling Eden Hazard, and being prevented from signing newcomers, Chelsea have made a £133m profit this year – the first net gain Roman Abramovich has experienced in a decade.
The man to thank is Fifa president Gianni Infantino, whose organisation imposed the two-window transfer ban on the club.
Without it, Chelsea would have continued the tired policy of buying in talent, leaving the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Billy Gilmour, Tino Anjorin, Ian Maatsen and Marc Guehi out in the boondocks, on loan.
A trip down the M3 to Southampton looms at the weekend, with pocket-sized midfielder Gilmour so impressing in the 7-1 Carabao slaughter of Grimsby that he can expect a seat on the bench.
Several of the academy graduates have performed so well in recent weeks that they’ve multiplied their value tenfold – another bizarre by-product of Fifa’s ‘punishment’.
It’s time to make Infantino a Chelsea vice-president, to sit alongside his other title.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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