It is no secret that Roman Abramovich keeps the Chelsea academy close to his heart. He makes it a point to attend most of the matches and wants to see more youngsters graduating from academy getting into the first-team.
This in fact has become one of the key factors for Jose Mourinho who promised to integrate some of the winners from the UEFA Youth League into the main squad. But, apart from the promises, there isn’t any visible improvement on the pitch.
The Blues squad for the Community Shield match against Arsenal had only one academy graduate and that was John Terry. The more worrying trend is the failure of other youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore and Ola Aina in the defeat against Fiorentina.
Chelsea devotes money and time into the academy coaching set up. The frightening aspect is that in spite of the millions, the academy has been unable to produce a first-team regular since Terry in 1997.
The Blues have a working relationship with Vitesse which works as a platform for youngsters. Most of the youngsters end up on loan at the Dutch club and hone their skills. But, that is where it all ends and the graduates end up either being loaned out again or sold.
Abramovich must also be wondering on the salaries and transfer fees for the players apart from the staff costs, travel and educational facilities. To quote an example, Loftus-Cheek earns £18,000 per week and is nowhere near grabbing a regular spot.
Izzy Brown is captured at £1 million from West Brom while Josh McEachran singed a five year deal in 2011 worth £38,000 a week. McEachran, who was once touted to be the brightest talents in England, joined Brentford in the summer. These numbers alone are reason enough to frustrate Abramovich.
Mourinho famously insisted on his return to Stamford Bridge that his tenure will be a failure if he cannot produce a first-team regular from the academy. Going by the trend so far, he may have to answer some unsettling queries from Abramovich.
