Who can Chelsea turn to for wingback assistance?
1. Ian Maatsen
It seems as if the name that has been on the minds of supporters for the last few seasons is Ian Maatsen. Despite the left back being talked about for years now, he’s still just 20 years old. Chilwell represents the present of the position. Although he still has a long way to go in his career in west London (he turns 26 later this year), he won’t be around forever, nor is he always fully healthy. Maatsen is one of the best options to replace Alonso long-term and eventually Chilwell, especially if the Blues are looking for a project to perfect his craft under the starter’s tutelage.
The only downside to Maatsen’s CV is his lack of experience. He’s still getting his feet wet in professional football as he turns a corner and becomes a full-time first team player in some of Europe’s top leagues. The Netherlands native has embarked on two loans over the last two seasons—both to lower leagues. Maatsen’s first loan (Charlton Athletic) was to League One, which was immediately followed by a temporary switch to the Championship with Coventry City.
He’s currently climbing his way up the English football ladder. After two sensational seasons out on loan, Maatsen finally looks ready for Premier League football. The versatile left wingback played in 41 games for Coventry as the Sky Blues finished 12th in the second division. Maatsen scored one of the goals of the season against Fulham, which turned out to be one of his four scoring contributions across all competitions out on loan.
Another one of the concerns around Maatsen is his height. Standing just 5-foot-6, these doubts from pundits are understandable, especially if the Blues bring on Jules Kounde this summer. Nevertheless, what Maatsen lacks in height, he more than makes up for in his speed, technical ability and versatility. He’s proven to be a capable defender at every level of football he’s participated in throughout his career. Not much more needs to be said on the subject.
It’s apparent that Maatsen is nearing his breakthrough at the top of professional football. Even though he has shown that he deserves an opportunity to wiggle his way into the first team, Tuchel cannot be blamed for wanting someone with a bit more experience.