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Hull City’s Leonid Slutsky hopes closer ties with Chelsea lead to more loans

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Roman Abramovic, Cheslea Chairman and former Football player and Coach, Leonid Slutsky (L) watch on during the FA Youth Cup Final, second leg between Chelsea and Mancherster City at Stamford Bridge on April 26, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Roman Abramovic, Cheslea Chairman and former Football player and Coach, Leonid Slutsky (L) watch on during the FA Youth Cup Final, second leg between Chelsea and Mancherster City at Stamford Bridge on April 26, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
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Hull City’s new manager Leonid Slutsky hopes to leverage his friendship with Roman Abramovich to rebuild his squad with the help of a platoon of Chelsea loanees.

For a club with plastic fans, no history and a cabinet of bought-and-paid-for silverware, Chelsea sure are good at making new friends. Hull City, under Leonid Slutsky, believe that a strong relationship with Chelsea can help them return to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

While Chelsea’s other feeder relationships are strictly business, there would be a personal aspect to this one. Slutsky and Roman Abramovich are long-time friends. Abramovich opened the doors to Slutsky, letting him attend training sessions and ensuring he was at Chelsea games. Abramovich also helped his countryman acclimate to life in England, recommending an English-language school.

With Hull in the Championship next season, the two friends will not be competitors on the pitch. Hull’s relegation also increases the number of players they can take on loan from a single club.

"In the Championship we have some loan options. It’s four players from one team, and it’s a possible situation to get some players from Chelsea… Chelsea have a lot of serious players – 37 on loan altogether, all over Europe. I think we will have some opportunities but I won’t speak about each player. – SkySports"

As with any business endeavor, the personal relationship should be only the starting point. After Abramovich and Slutsky lay the groundwork, the academy and player development staff must sign off on Hull as a positive destination for their youth. If they do, the Blues should pursue this opportunity.

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The more players Chelsea can loan within the top two tiers of English football, the fewer they will loan to the lower tiers. A player in the Blues’ loan system should be capable of playing first division football in England or the continent. They should be Premier League-calibre en route to becoming Chelsea-calibre.

English football is not an unqualified positive for a young Blue. They need to play good football – not necessarily English football – to develop into a Chelsea player. Players can go far from home geographically on loan, but should never go far away in terms of the quality of football their parent club expects of them.

The Championship is the highest-quality second division in Europe. Playing in the Championship is also very specific training for a Chelsea loanee given the style of play and the identities of the clubs, coaches and players. They will encounter some of them if they reach the Premier League with the Blues.

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Hull City, if they can get their house in order, can make a speedy return to the Premier League. They have plenty of experience as a club and within their squad in the top flight. Chelsea loanees will have a positive learning experience playing there. If the two Russians can shepherd this arrangement along, both sides can attain solid benefits.

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