Chelsea are in the midst of a very difficult season. However, they must plan for the future by using generous contracts to empower Antonio Conte and build around four key players.
A major issue Chelsea FC have is a lack of direction. They can never really build anything special because they never move more than a year or two in a direction before moving in another. That is the first thing they need to change. If Chelsea do nothing else this summer, extending Antonio Conte would make it a success.
The Blues are in an enviable position to have a coach of such quality already. Sadly, if Chelsea sack Conte, few coaches are good enough to take the helm. Even fewer would do so. Remember, Pep Guardiola had been rumored to be coming to Chelsea for years. But he eventually developed a dislike of Roman Abramovich’s style of firing people and decided against it. Finding and hiring a better coach than Conte will be impossible.
For Conte to build momentum and actually build Chelsea into something special, he needs time. The board need to extend him beyond his remaining year and grant him three more years at Stamford Bridge.
The standard in England is Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. They will remain so until another manager exceeds his record. Ferguson’s progression is an interesting one. He was tasked with rebuilding a team that had a lot of previous success but had not won the league in 20 years.
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In Ferguson’s first five years he finished 11th (1986), second (1987), 11th (1988), 13th (1989) and then sixth (1990). What followed between 1992 and 2012 was an unprecedented 38 trophies, including 13 league titles.
In those first five years, which were undoubtedly rocky, United’s willingness to stick with a manager empowered him and set the team up for greater success. Chelsea should learn from this. It is the right thing to do. With a manager as good as Conte at the helm and empowered to truly build, Chelsea could have two decades of success.
A manager who is empowered by his club is then able to manage players at the necessary level. He can properly train them beyond what they think they can do. He can discipline them when need be. Finally, he provides the continuity necessary for players to develop.
With a manager like Ferguson, United were able to develop their own stars who believed not only in him, but one another and their club. Chelsea could do the same and have one of the most talented group of youth players ever to do it with. They will do it, if they actually care about winning.
Or they will change direction. Again.
After signing Conte, the board should very publicly call Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante, Willian, and Eden Hazard into a room and offer them contracts together. Side by side. Let them see how much the club wants to build around them. It should be these players. Not only because of their talent, but the things they represent.
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Eden Hazard is the star. The largest contract in club history should be his and Chelsea should remind him that, maybe, being the best player ever in the history of a club is better than being a servant at another. The contract should be on the lines of six years at £350,000-400,000 per week.
N’Golo Kante is maybe the most influential player in the team on his day and presents the right attitude. If he was English, every weekend would be a regular love-in about his “English character and fortitude.” Chelsea should give him a contract that reflects their appreciation of his play and his character. It would be a beacon to the other players. They should sign him for six years at £150,000-175,000 per week.
Willian is the same. His contract would be as much a reflection of his successes already as a statement of confidence in his future. He is a bit older, so four years at £150,000 per week.
Finally, Cesar Azpilicueta. Chelsea finally have a captain of character and class to build around. His contract should ensure he finishes his career in west London. With his good personal habits and work-rate there is no reason to expect a decline any time soon. He should be at Stamford Bridge at least another five years at £165,000 per week.
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If Chelsea, in the space of one week, announced the manager and four star players had re-signed for the foreseeable future, Chelsea would show that finally, just maybe, they were building something beyond the tip of their own nose. THAT would be the correct thing to do.