Chelsea FC loanee Ryan Bertand has been outstanding while on loan at Southampton this year. Becoming a regular starter for the Saints from the moment he signed his loan deal, Bertrand has been a key player for the Saints so far this season and by the looks of things, may be there to stay.
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In the season long loan deal for the defender, Southampton also have an option to make the move permanent. Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is a big fan of Bertrand and has made it known that he would like to keep him at St. Mary’s for good.
"“We would like to know fast what the player likes, if there is any possibility to buy that player, and that’s in the case of Ryan. We try to do our maximum to keep these players because they are good players and still at a good age to develop.” -Robert Koeman (Southampton Manager)ESPN FC"
The 25 year old defender has scored two goals and has two assists so far this season and has also been one of the most consistent defenders of this year’s Premier League campaign. With many key players also reaching the end of contracts, Koeman is doing his best to try and secure as many names as possible.
Last summer saw Southampton endure a massive player exodus with players like Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Rickie Lambert all departing to what they thought were greener pastures. Somehow, with Koeman’s guidance, the Saints have done even better than last year and have done that by playing excellent defensive football.
The Saints currently have the best defense in the Premier League by three goals. They have only allowed 16 goals in 22 matches compared to Chelsea FC’s 19 and Manchester United’s 21 who are second and third in that category. Players like Ryan Bertrand have been a big part of that success and he is playing well enough to warrant a starting place in a Premier League squad.
Chelsea FC currently feature three fullbacks on a rotation, Branislav Ivanovic, Filipe Luis, and Cesar Azpilicueta. Azpilicueta and Ivanovic are the regular first choice fullbacks but Filipe Luis has been playing very well while Azpi recovers from an injury. Some pundits and fans have been calling for Ivanovic to be dropped because of his supposed defensive failures and his cavalier attitude in attack.
If Chelsea were to keep Bertrand rather than sell him, he could slot in nicely as the fourth or even third fullback in that rotation. There are some that believe Bertrand should be the fullback opposite Ivanovic or Azpilicueta and in fairness to him he has been proving many of the doubters wrong. It is one thing to play well under little expectations versus playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the world on a regular basis.
Ryan Bertrand has proven that he can handle the pressure of a big-time match with his performance in the Champions League final but that is becoming a distant memory. His performances with Southampton have done well to remind us that he is a very capable player and the Chelsea brass have an interesting decision to make regarding his status for next season and beyond.