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Premier League: Chelsea have a vein in their quarry: “The door is always open”

En the first seasons of Roman Abramovich at the helm of Chelsea, a youth squad survives among his millionaire signings. John Terry grew up from ‘blue’ after arriving as a West Ham kid and broke up in the first team to lead it, playing 717 games and lifting 17 titles. An exception in a London team that devised a plan for the ‘Terrys’ to multiply in their squad.

Giving youth players opportunities will always be a priority. I wanted the first team and the academy to be connected again

Frank Lampard, former Chelsea coach

Four years after the departure of the English central defender, the ‘academy players’ populate the Bridge dressing room. “The door is always open. The mix of great international stars with the boys from the quarry make this club special. You see the photo of the Champions League and there are several players from the academy, as it has to be, “confessed Thomas Tuchel. Since his arrival in January, the homegrown players have had a great deal of prominence in his team. He has followed the line set by Frank Lampard .

“Giving them opportunities is always going to be a priority. I wanted the first team and the academy to be connected again,” said the ‘blue’ legend. Mount, James, Gilmour, Anjorin, Maatsen, Lamptey, Guehi … A plan that Tuchel continued: Mount and James are, along with Azpilicueta, the two footballers that he has used the most (39 games). “See how the Chelsea legends raised great trophies when I was in the quarry. I always wanted to follow in their footsteps,” explained the English medium, key in the conquest of the ‘Orejona’ in Do Dragao by assisting Havertz in the only goal of the match . “I have played for Chelsea since I was seven and have fulfilled my dream. The fans are happy to see academy players in the first team,” said the winger. They are the image of Cobham’s success.

The mix of great international stars with the boys from the quarry make this club special. You see the photo of the Champions League and there are several players from the academy, as it has to be

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea manager

This season, Mount (22 years old) and James (21) are being important for the German coach like Christensen (25), Loftus-Cheek (25), Chalobah (22), Hudson-Odoi (20) … “It is always special to have homegrown players on the grass. And if they are decisive like against Norwich, much better”, confessed Tuchel after the 7-0 with which they established themselves in the leadership. A match in which Mount (three goals), James (one) and Hudson-Odoi (one) hit the target. It was the great work of the blue factor.

This is how the Chelsea quarry grew

Champions League (Matchday 3): Summary and goals of Chelsea 4-0 Malmoe

“My goal is to build the future. That is why Cobham is so important to me. The club is not just the men’s team: it is the women’s team, its quarry and the surrounding community,” said Abramovich. In 2007 he opened the modern ‘blue’ academy in Surrey. An enclosure of 57 hectares with 30 fields, gym, swimming pool, residence … for all Chelsea teams that had a cost of 24 million euros. “Developing local players is a vitally important goal. Cobham provides us with the perfect platform for this. Our young footballers, coaches and the entire community will work closely with the first team. This is a very important part of the philosophy of the club, “said Peter Kenyon, executive president of the team.

Abramovich wanted to have the best academy and the best scouts in the world. We did a program to define the style of play from the age of nine. He asked me to spend in the quarry. It can save you millions and create roots

Frank Arnesen, former Chelsea Sporting Director

Roman wanted to have the best academy and the best scouts in the world. We did a program to define the style of play from the age of nine. He asked me to spend in the quarry. It can save you millions and create roots “, Frank Arnesen, Chelsea sports director until 2010. The work of scouting spread across the globe … although FIFA sanctioned the ‘blues’ in 2019 with two windows without signing due to irregularities in the incorporation of minors, a punishment that the TAS reduced to the summer market … allowing the promises to take hold even more among the ‘older’.

Homegrown players who have played for Chelsea in 2021-22

  • Christensen: 10 games and one goal
  • Chalobah: 10 games and 2 goals
  • James: 10 games, 2 goals and 3 assists
  • Loftus-Cheek: 7 matches
  • Mount: 12 games, 3 goals and 2 assists
  • Hudson-Odoi: 8 games, 1 goal and one assist

A boost for a quarry that imports and exports. Trevor Chalobah has been the last to ‘break’ the door of the first team. “He is established as a defender in the line of three and is learning everything that is needed at the level of tactics and knowledge to be a Chelsea player,” said Tuchel about the 22-year-old central defender. In addition, there are others like Livramento and Broja (Southampton), Ak (City), Gilmour (Norwich), Tomori (Milan), Abraham (Rome), Gallagher (Crystal Palace) … who are shining in all latitudes. Some transferred and others transferred, spread the blue talent across the planet. This summer, Chelsea has earned 98.4 million euros! with the sales of Abraham (40), Tomori (29.2), Guehi (23.3) and Livramento (5.9). The academy graduates players who are valued. 14 years after Cobham’s inauguration, the ‘kids’ who played on its fields are now elite footballers. A whole lot.

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