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Chelsea now appear to have the team Roman Abramovich has always wanted

talksport.com, 28 October 2021, 19:30
Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea retained their position at the top of the Premier League table this weekend, sticking SEVEN goals past relegation favourite's Norwich city.

But despite the glittering score line, it's the nationality of those on the score sheet that made the headlines.

English contingent Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Mason Mount all found the net against the struggling Canaries.

And even the seventh goal, an own goal was scored by another Englishman, defender Max Aarons.

Mount, who started on the bench against Brentford when manager Tuchel rotated his team after a loss in form, returned to the starting eleven on Saturday.

And the midfielder made a statement to his boss by not only scoring for the first time in 25 games, but doing so three times.

Fortune seemed to also favour his compatriots.

Chilwell has now scored as many as Manchester United's Luke Shaw after just one year at Chelsea.

Former Three Lions players Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek came on throughout the game and impressed as well.

Loftus-Cheek's latest form has reignited his chances in staying at Chelsea after a below par loan move to relegated Fulham last season.

So, has owner Roman Abramovich finally cracked the code on not having to spent bucket loads of cash on foreign players to be successful?

The sky really is the limit for Chelsea to continue providing homegrown talent.

And this has been evident within the Chelsea academy's transfer activity.

Rumours have emerged this week that Chelsea are amongst many other teams in the race to sign highly rated Charlton youth goalkeeper James Beadle.

The blues are said to be keen to bring the 17-year-old to West London to mould him into both Chelsea and England's No.1.

Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher is another prime example of Chelsea focusing on home grown talent, with the 21-year-old performing fantastically out on an improved loan move.

Gallagher experienced excellent loan spells at both Charlton and Swansea, before moving to the Eagles so far this season and scoring twice in eight games.

It's fair to say he can't be far off breaking into the Chelsea first team.

But it hasn't always been this way.

In previous years, Chelsea have been no stranger to providing players to England national teams.

However, the only player of note to be produced by the Chelsea academy over the last few decades was John Terry.

Whilst Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole also made up England's Euro 2012 squad alongside Terry ten years ago, they originated from West Ham and Arsenal respectively.

Abramovich has crafted a reputation for spending large sums on foreign players since buying the club in 2003.

But he had always possessed a desire to create a successful home grown team.

Now with academy products Mount and James, plus Chilwell and co. they are flying.

Much like in 2012, three Chelsea players were included in Southgate's Euro 2020 squad - Mount, James and Chilwell.

However it's clear that Chelsea have since upped the ante by making investing in home grown prodigies a priority.

Even ex-Chelsea captain Terry has full faith in Abramovich's vision becoming a reality, telling fans on an Instagram live how much he rates one of the rising stars, Mount.

"In my mind, he's a Chelsea and England captain" he said.

Six of the 18-man squad picked for the Norwich game were English, while Chelsea's academy given Roma and West Ham top talent in the shape of Tammy Abraham and Declan Rice.

If Chelsea can win the title back from City this season with a team full of English players, the future is well and truly bright.

And if they do, Mr Abramovich's wallet will thank them.

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