- Chelsea’s failure to bridge the gap between the academy and the first-team has been summed up in one stat.
- Academy foursome have more England caps than Premier League starts for the Blues.
- READ MORE: Schalke 04 director confirms January transfer negotiations may well take place.
Chelsea football club is not the ideal environment for players to develop and fulfil their potential – this we know.
However, something that the Blues have excelled, especially in recent years, is producing some seriously talented young players.
Our youth sides have enjoyed plenty of success since the turn of the decade, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
The main issue that we are confronted with in SW6 is how we can bridge the gap between the academy and the first-team.
Not since John Terry broke into the starting side has an academy product played a significant role at the club. Andreas Christensen has the potential to do so, but it’s still very much early days.
Just how difficult it is for those who have graduated from our academy to force their way into the senior side has been summed up by one, damning stat.
Journalist Richard Jolly posted the below tweet, which does not make for enjoyable reading from a Chelsea fan’s perspective.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham, Jack Cork & Dominic Solanke came through Chelsea’s youth system. They now have as many England caps (6) as Premier League starts for Chelsea.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) 14 November 2017
