Chelsea loans: PSV, Marco van Ginkel outpacing Vitesse contingent (Video)
By George Perry
Chelsea loanees squared off in the Eredivisie on Sunday as Vitesse hosted PSV Eindhoven. Mason Mount scored a smart goal in a losing effort, with four Blues-away-from-home on the pitch at the final whistle.
Five Chelsea loanees were in Vitesse Arnhem’s squad against PSV Eindhoven, where Marco van Ginkel is the lone representative of the Blues’ loan army. Matt Miazga and Fankaty Dabo started for Vitesse, and Mason Mount had an instant impact as a 62′ substitute. Charlie Colkett and Mukhtar Ali were unused substitutes.
Dabo and Mount linked up on a pass worthy of Stamford Bridge. Dabo came across midfield and darted inside to collect the ball from his midfielder. He took a touch and spotted Mount’s run in behind PSV’s centre-back. Dabo sent a perfectly-weighted, long diagonal pass that Mount took on the volley to cushion over PSV’s goalkeeper. It was Mount’s first touch of the game, producing a goal reminiscent of Demba Ba’s against Manchester United in the 2013 FA Cup.
Mount had the memorable moment, but the day – like the rest of the Dutch season – belonged to PSV Eindhoven. PSV have a five point hold on first place in the Eredivisie, building on last year’s third-place finish. Marco van Ginkel has six goals already: third-best on the team, fourth-best in the league and two shy of his career-best.
The goals are almost secondary to van Ginkel’s playing time. He is one of only two PSV outfield players to play every minute of the season thus far. This is a significant turning point in his career, which has never found consistency due to repeated injuries.
Van Ginkel signed a contract extension with Chelsea through 2020 in the summer. If he stays healthy this season and continues to feature for PSV, he will finish the year close to Chelsea’s mystical minimum number of appearances to promote a loanee to the first team. His performances earn him at least a thorough pre-season with the Blues.
However, he would be justified in following the example of other recent loanees by demanding a permanent move where he can truly establish his career. PSV Eindhoven would be happy to have him permanently, and he may return the sentiment. He could also finish the season ready for more than the Eredivisie, whether that would take him to the Premier League or the Bundesliga.
The Vitesse contingent – in keeping with that club’s role as Chelsea’s early-stage incubator – do not yet have such prospects in front of them. Only Fankaty Dabo and Matt Miazga have seen regular playing time this season. Charlie Colkett has one start, and he and Mount each have five substitute appearances. Mukhtar Ali has two appearances for 51 minutes.
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Some of this may be down to Vitesse’s limping season. They won their first-ever trophy in the spring, the KNVB Cup, which earned them a spot in the Europa League. Vitesse will not repeat that feat, as a non-league team bounced them from the KNVB Cup in the second round. They have only one point in the Europa League group stages, effectively eliminating them from the tournament. Domestically, they are in fifth place – where they finished two of the last three seasons.