Bertrand Traore is the latest Chelsea FC player to be placed under the microscope as we evaluate his performances over the 2015/16 campaign.
BERTRAND TRAORE
Bertrand Traore was a bright spot in this campaign! Sort of like when you are sitting on your picnic blanket and every single thing seems lost as the clouds pull overhead before the sun just peeks through to suggest the future won’t be a washout. That is exactly what Bertrand Traore was for Chelsea football club this year and my Lord did they need him.
It has been a long time since Jose Mourinho canceled Traore’s season abroad at Chelsea’s finishing school, Vitesse Arnhem, to let him stay with the squad after an impressive pre-season. Every time Traore has touched the ball in these last 10 months (which since this is Chelsea has been infrequent), he has looked bright and up to the challenge.
Having said that, I do personally think his frame is a little too slight to be stuck up front as a lone forward like he has been for many of his appearances this season. Preferably, he would be deployed somewhere out on the wing.
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His stature did not stop him hitting the back of the net, though. He opened his Chelsea account with a goal against MK Dons in the FA Cup. He would also score in the 5-1 win over Manchester City in the same tournament. Two Premier League goals against Stoke City and Newcastle United brought his season tally to four, even though he had made only four starts all year long.
From a mental point of view, the most encouraging thing about Traore is that he always seems to be up for the fight. His frame is small and where most players would have been discouraged by being pushed off the ball as frequently as he is, Traore shows real stomach for battle.
That is one of the most important traits in British football and often the hardest part to find in youngsters. Traore possesses it in spades to go with his clearly sizeable amount of talent.
Next: Player evaluations 2015/16 hub
Hopefully, the youngster will get even more chances to prove himself under Antonio Conte and grow on the successes of his first season’s worth of appearances for the senior squad.