Chelsea academy graduates will never have another year like 2019/20

Chelsea’s youth players have a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to progress into the first team this season without any fear of a transfer displacing them.

As a club, the past 15 years – each year, and the whole span – have among the best at Chelsea. Not many clubs can claim such a fine period in their history. But one thing everyone at Chelsea would have loved is having more players progress from their enormously successful academy into the first team.

When Roman Abramovich bought the club, the immediate priority was putting Chelsea at the very top. Understandably, they had to buy many top players to achieve that. Under Jose Mourinho, they were one of the finest clubs in the world, with the manager and players to prove it. But due to issues at the board and management level, Mourinho left Stamford Bridge.

The next few years until Mourinho’s return in 2013 saw a lot of men try to replicate the success and consistency of the Portuguese. The quest for immediate success means things become even more difficult to promote youths from the academy.

After a successful first year, Carlo Ancelotti tried making a difference with the academy. But the impatience of Abramovich meant he was shown the backdoor for poor cup runs and a second place finish in the Premier League.

Meantime, Chelsea’s academy took their place among the best of their peers, producing more and more exciting players under the likes of Adi Viveash, Jody Morris and Joe Edwards. This left many youngsters and fans frustrated at Chelsea: the quality was at Cobham, but they had to leave the club once they were ready for first-team football.

Every transfer window, there is a flux of players linked with Chelsea. But the transfer ban means the only talk is about who among the club’s academy and loan system is going to make the first team. Even if the board wanted to recruit players like the last few years, irrespective of the head coach’s wish, they are unable to do so, which gives Frank Lampard the absolute control of the team selection.

Frank Lampard has made it more than clear how much he wants to see the academy graduates have their chance. Having Morris and Edwards will definitely help Lampard access the players much better. Alongside the coaching staff is Petr Cech, who is such a massive supporter of the academy that he used to watch them play even when he was at Arsenal.

No matter the result or the man in charge, once the ban is over there will be more big money signings at Chelsea next season. A massive club like Chelsea needs that. Next year and the years after won’t won’t be the upcoming season for the academy. Never again will they be the only pool of players in contention and the selection done by a group of people who have 100% faith in them.

A successful involvement for the loanees and graduates will benefit many people at the club. It is massive for all the future academy graduates and loanees. It will give the board belief and confidence in the academy, perhaps enough to dissuade them from trying to sign big money squad players in the future, opting instead for the option they have already invested in and developed.

If Frank Lampard and his team can lay that groundwork this season, Chelsea’s future will be bright and their success will be even more phenomenal.