There has been a lot of negativity surrounding Chelsea in 2019.
The Blues departed the Premier League title race prematurely, meaning they are now fighting tooth and nail jut to finish in the top-four. There was the whole unsavoury Kepa Arrizabalaga saga during the League Cup Final loss to Manchester City. While the club has since been smacked with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA, who also refused their request to freeze the punishment during an appeal.
However, here at The Sportsman we like to put a positive spin on scenarios - well, most of the time anyway - and with that in mind we identify THREE reasons why the proposed ban ins’t all bad news for the Blues, in fact it could well be the making of a new look Chelsea.
Let the youngsters flourish
It’s become evident this season that Chelsea fans want to see young exciting prospects such as Callum Hudson-Odoi handed more game time. You can't blame them either considering that the 18-year-old is one of the most exciting English talents in the game today.
Unfortunately, he appeared desperate to leave the Bridge during the most recent transfer window - Bayern Munich were prepared to offer a whopping £35million for the player - however, in the end he stayed, much to the relief of supporters. Good choice it proved to be too as he's since bagged four goals in his last eight games.
It's simple really, the more game time he gets the better he will become. The same principle applies to the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ethan Ampadu and the plethora of players out on loan - we’ll get to them in a moment - who all have the potential to flourish for the capital club, providing they are given the chance.
Sarri-ball could yet sizzle
‘Sarri-ball’ has without question been one of the most prominent phrases in the Premier League this season. The philosophy, an attacking brand of fast-paced, possession-based football, may have yet failed to sparkle in England, but that’s not to say it won’t in the future.
Given that Sarri, who has been a mainstay towards the top of the Sack Race, is given more than a single season to implement his ideas, then Chelsea fans have reason to get excited. Anyone who got a glimpse of Napoli during Sarri’s tenure knows just how dazzling the style of play can be - even Pep Guardiola was mesmerized.
Instead of constantly bringing in expensive new faces, the transfer ban means that Sarri can continue to train his current crop of players who one day may thrive under the system, or a slightly adapted system at least.
Get those loan players back at the Bridge
Chelsea may not be able to purchase players for a while, but let’s not forget that they have a staggering total of 41 players out on loan. That’s nearly four starting-11s.
We are talking Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Kurt Zouma (Everton), Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa), Mason Mount (Derby), Tiemoue Bakayoko (AC Milan) to name just seven. We could keep going for some time.
We get it. It’s in trend to splash the cash on one or two high-profile names every window, but why not take a look around your own gargantuan roster and give one of those players the chance to prosper.
Also, let’s not forget that Chelsea have already secured the signing of Christian Pulisic for a hefty £58m. The United States star was snapped up in January, but was loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the campaign. Make no mistake about it, big things are expected next season when he returns to his new club.
