Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
If Chelsea fans were unsure about Xabi Alonso’s willingness to use youth players, they know now. During pre-season, Alonso handed plenty of young talents the chance to shine in Australia and Asia.
Initially against Western Sydney, Alonso packed his side with young talent. Many returned to Cobham after a couple of games, but the final game against Johor Darul Ta’zim saw plenty of youngsters play.
Chelsea's pre-season results
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Reggie Watson has been excellent, Tayo Subuloye has gone under the radar when used, and Dastan Satpayev is a genuine consideration for the first team next season. Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli leads the way.
But aside from the 16-year-old midfielder’s performance of Mario’s Let Me Love You, Alonso has had to make a decision with another Chelsea academy product. This time, for the role of third-choice keeper.
Xabi Alonso’s choice proves BlueCo have got it all wrong
The majority of academy players at Chelsea have joined the club from other teams. Watson joined Chelsea aged just 13 from Crystal Palace. That’s the norm; players move to different academies regularly.
TOPSHOT-FBL-AUS-ENG-CHELSEA-TOTTENHAM-FRIENDLY
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What BlueCo have got wrong is spending millions on players between the ages of 18 and 21 when the prospects in the club’s academy are just as good, if not better. Gaga Slonina is the perfect example.
According to The Athletic, Alonso is leaning towards Teddy Sharman-Lowe as his third-choice option in goal over Slonina. Proof that Chelsea’s academy players are often better than BlueCo’s young signings.
A £10m signing from Chicago Fire in 2022, Slonina is yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea. A waste of money, and Alonso’s latest decision proves BlueCo are wrong to spend millions on youth.
Chelsea FC v AC Milan - Pre-Season Friendly
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Especially when there are youngsters in the Chelsea academy who are seeing their path into the first team blocked by young additions costing big money, when in actual fact, the Cobham gems are better.
Alonso cannot let BlueCo block the paths of Chelsea’s gems
For many who have gone before Alonso, the likes of Leo Castledine, Jimmy-Jay Morgan and others were forced to leave Chelsea to start their careers; it is too late. For Watson and Jazuli-Nicoll, it is up in the air.
Alonso has to sort out the situation to avoid another waste of money spent on players like Slonina, when the youngsters in Chelsea’s academy are often better. Alonso cannot let BlueCo block their pathway.
If Chelsea were to sign Watson or Jazuli-Nicoll from another club right now, it would cost them millions. The situation between Slonina and Sharman-Lowe has to serve as a warning to Alonso moving forward.