It feels like the team behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge actually know what they’re doing. There are few things more outrageous
than seeing people spend money, and there’s no denying that Chelsea have spent a slightly insulting amount of money over the past two years.
It was filthy, it was callous, it was downright stupid, it was obscenely insensitive and at times it seemed disrespectful to the very fabric of the sport.
The great destroyers of all were themselves. It is difficult to assess the damage done to Chelsea’s image by Todd Boehly’s tenure as self-appointed interim sporting director.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling may no longer be with us, but their memories perpetuate the overarching idea of a club run by
the Magpies of football, building the world’s most ornate but structurally fragile nest. Today, 22 months have passed since Bowley refused to control
the transfer activity in December 2022, before Lawrence Stuart joined him two months later. Former magician of Joe Shields of Manchester City Cadmy, registered in January 2023.
Andrew Cousins joined as head of scouting in July of the same year, and Sam Jewell, a South American talent pool player from Brighton, was to succeed former manager Winstanley in May 2024.
At some point, a truly competent recruitment system emerged. The first signs were in Cole Palmer last season, Nicholas Jackson is not very dense, but time and experience live more light at the depth of talent for Stamford Bridge.
Renato Weiga is the next former unknown to assert his abilities acting somewhere between the left defender and the attack on
the midfield against the gentlemen, previously the defender of the midfielder against Bournmouth and the defender before.
He has impressive confidence in his versatility for his age, underlined not only by his first Chelsea goal on
Thursday but also by his assists, six duels won, four chances created and three 100 per cent success rates on long balls. And that memorable knee slip didn’t hurt.
After signing for £12 million, the 21-year-old was expected to be loaned out, with widespread scepticism about his ability due to his disappointing resume, low price and lack of recognition.
But early signs of his potential and performances, combined with the continued development of players such as Palmer, Jackson and Gusteau, as well as Noni Madueke,
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, have renewed confidence in a scouting system that once seemed so fundamentally easy.
There was much derision over Chelsea’s attempts to sign Sama Omorodion and John Duran this summer, but both have proven that their senior colleagues
may actually know what they’re doing. Add to this the apparent resurgence of Jadon Sancho’s prodigious talent, and all the evidence points to a recruitment
structure that could provide the foundations for long-term success. This is not an assessment of the ridiculous fees paid for some of these players, nor a
validation of the cruel transfer policy regarding academy players. But it is an acknowledgement that Chelsea’s £1 billion outlay should no longer be seen as a piece of spending.
Enzo Maresca made 11 changes to his side against Gent after the 4-2 win at Brighton, giving him the option to call up two very different XIs – a squad
with a clear difference in quality but with immense talent still wrapped up in it. And where the current crop comes from, there are already more.
Kendry Paes and Estevao Willian, who are expected to join the squad before next summer’s Club World Cup, seem like unique talents in the vein of Palmer,
the kind of magical forces that fuel the title fight. Early signs of Maresca’s reign suggest they are finally at a club that can provide them with the support they need to develop as they should.
Youth development is never a perfect or linear process, but it appears to be a concept that Maresca is clearly aware of and has experience with,
another example of a vastly improved recruiting effort. Even if Mudrik is found to be another victim of Chelsea’s brutal catering, he is an exception, not in principle.
All of these are equipped with a wider rejuvenation with Stanford Bridge. We are lamps in the sense that we can do anything.
Malazuka was definitely blessed by a team that was almost completely adapted to Mauricio Pochicino, which he could dream, but he used it as much as possible.
The strong beginning, the rising palms in soccer divine, and the wider sense of the club’s decisions has been considerably improved –
it is a positive field piled up in Chelsea, and it is an unusual phenomenon that is fragile and fragile recently. As Maresca said, time is the luxury Chelsea need most now,
the fundamental difference between their team and the real title contenders. Six months ago, more time would have seemed like just an opportunity for more problems.
Now it might be the key to solidifying the new Chelsea empire.
