Chelsea: New appearances give fans a reason to believe

Chelsea returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since March. Some photos from the session gave fans a reason to smile.

You’ve seen bandaged Jorginho. You’ve seen pony-tailed David Luiz. You’ve seen bandaged Gary Cahill and you’ve even seen face mask Diego Costa; but, have you seen N’Golo Kante with hair? Have you seen Ross Barkley or Jorginho with beards?

Obviously all of these changes are cosmetic. However, over the years, a few alterations to the appearances of some Chelsea players have resulted in a cult following. Further, some believe these changes enhance the players’ performances.

It’s unknown how long each player will keep their altered appearances. Some could never see a competitive pitch with their current getups, but it’s the fun fans have with the changes that should be highlighted.

The Premier League has been suspended for two months now. The return is nearing, but still seems impossible and unlikely. The return of the players—like Kante and Jorginho—with different hairstyles and facial hair gives fans an escape from the dreary discussions of the last few months. Instead of discussing whether or not the season will resume, football fans are focused on facial hair. If this saga was a Shakespearean tragedy, this would represent the comedic relief portion of the play.

The special styles give fans a reason to laugh, but also a reason to believe. Football fans are enamored by superstitions and weird beliefs. Seeing someone like Kante—who has struggled tremendously this season—show up having changed something about his appearance is a positive sign for some.

Players performing better with appearance alterations is an enigma. Most recently, Jorginho put a bandage on his head and put in a performance of the season back in May of 2019. What’s to stop Kante with hair, Barkley with a beard or Jorginho with facial hair from becoming the next cult favorites?

If fans get treated to seeing these hairstyles on the pitch (through televisions, of course), it will be a treat. Regardless, seeing photographs of these men in training is enough to produce a grin from ear-to-ear in these times which provide little reason for supporters to smile.