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To create history holding BOTH European trophies at the same time is fantastic and behind the scenes the club deserves great credit for building the squad we currently have!
Slowly but surely and season by season, the club have replaced what appeared to be an ageing squad with key players in key positions to begin with. Once that process was complete, have looked at investing in squad depth in accordance with the new financial fair play regulations and we have seen the fruits of that process last night.
Think of the average age of the Chelsea squad now without the likes of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry and you will see we are set up for the next five years!
OK, we have spent money on those younger players ahead of the limitations coming into play and in accordance with planning for our future. Chelsea look like being in a position of strength and if anything, will not need to spend huge amounts of money in the coming seasons.
Look at the players brought into the club since Carlo Ancelotti won the Double in the 2009/2010 season and the age they are now:
Ramires – 26Luiz – 26Torres – 29Mata – 25De Bruyne – 22Willian – 25Cahill – 28Azpilicueta – 24Oscar – 22Schurrle – 22Van Ginkel – 20Hazard – 22
In addition to those players, think of the younger of those players that were already here:
Mikel – 26Bertrand – 24Ivanovic – 29
It’s only when you think of those players and their ages and you can see just how well the club has done over those seasons that have passed by. We have seen players leave the club and have been replaced by players of quality. Jose Mourinho has walked into such a good situation now and knows that the core of his squad (provided they all remain happy) will be there for him to work with for the long term.
Ask any Chelsea fan and they will tell you that the last two seasons have been amazing but in the back of our minds our league performances and finishes have not been anywhere near good enough.
We have seen with the performance of ten players who either sat on the bench or in the stands and not selected to start against Manchester City, that we have fantastic strength in depth to make a real sustained push to challenge for the Premier League once again AND the other competitions we are taking part in.
You have to take your hat off and give fantastic credit to Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board for working so hard these past few years to put us back in contention and to build on our European successes!
