Into the depths pt. 1: Chelsea’s keeper corps is strong, but for how long?
By Travis Tyler
From the academy: Lucas Bergstrom
It is exceedingly difficult to be an academy goalkeeper for Chelsea. While other positions may be able to debate whether or not they’ll eventually get a chance for the first team, no such conversation exists for the keepers. Once upon a time, the Blues would name the academy keeper to the first team as third choice. That practice stopped as the practice of buying older keepers began.
But, even if Bergstrom was the third choice keeper, he’d merely enter into the same situation as Bettinelli. As things stand, he gets to stay with the academy full time as he takes the u-23 starting position this season following the loan of Karlo Ziger.
Bergstrom will be hoping to impress enough at the academy level this season to get a loan for next season. Realistically, the only way a keeper in the academy will make the first team at Chelsea is after a series of loans. Bergstrom is only at the beginning of his journey but keep an eye on him if you watch any academy games this season. One never knows when someone will break tradition and precedent.
On loan: Nathan Baxter
Bergstrom might look to Baxter’s experience as inspiration. Starting from the academy, Baxter has gone on a series of loans as he has risen through the pyramid. His loan at Hull City will be his seventh in six seasons, making over 100 career appearances thus far. Hull will be his most difficult yet but, based on his trajectory, a good loan there could possibly see him loaned into the Premier League next season.
Only 22, if there is going to be an academy keeper that breaks through to be a part of the Chelsea first team, it looks like it’ll be Baxter. Keepers don’t even begin to enter their prime until their late 20s so he has plenty of time to develop yet. There very well could be a situation where Arrizabalaga leaves in the next two or three years and Baxter, provided he continues on his current trajectory, is kept to fill the deputy spot. It’s a long shot, but it was a long shot when Baxter was loaned to the Isthmian League only to rise all the way to the Championship. What’s one more step?
Next. UEFA Player of the Year talks about his difficult start at Chelsea. dark
What do you think of the depth for the keepers? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!