Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis believes Chelsea have pulled off a masterstroke by adding experience to their first team squad this summer.
Xabi Alonso clearly made a number of demands to the club’s hierarchy in order to take the job, and so far it looks as if he has been rewarded in the transfer market.
The Blues have brought in Maxence Lacroix and Morgan Rogers as Premier League-proven talents, while Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria have been brought in to suit Alonso’s style of play.
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Tony Pulis hails Chelsea’s ‘act of genius’ in signing Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson
The additions of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck have also gone under the radar, given the fact that they are not expected to be regular starters at Stamford Bridge.
The biggest criticism thrown at Chelsea over recent years is the lack of experience they have had in the first team squad, with them crumbling in tough atmospheres.
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Welbeck and Henderson have 800 Premier League appearances between them, and Tony Pulis believes those two additions will solve their biggest problems.
He told BBC Sport: “I really rate Alonso and bringing in Welbeck and Henderson was almost an act of genius because if, you look from the outside, the problems at that club are because there has been no-one in the dressing room to pull up the young players when that has been needed.”
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Welbeck and Henderson have big responsibilities at Chelsea
Joao Pedro has spoken about how helpful Welbeck was for him at Brighton, and they can now continue that strong relationship at Stamford Bridge.
Ashley Young named the Welbeck signing an ’11/10′ addition, with him expected to sit above Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson in the pecking order.
Henderson’s excellent disciplinary record will be key for Alonso as he looks to try and get Chelsea to shake off their red card woes from last season.
The Blues picked up double the amount of sending offs than any other Premier League club, and will have Wesley Fofana suspended for the start of this season due to his red card against Sunderland.