It has finally been secured, the Premier League is officially heading back to London after a four year stint in Manchester. News that means Chelsea can now start to look forward to next season and continuing their planning for the future. The extra time ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal whom are all still battling for the positions 2nd to 4th will put Chelsea in a healthy position compared to the others come the start of next season.
Something Chelsea must do now is continue to improve. There is a famous saying in football ‘improve whilst you’re on top’. Something the likes of Manchester City have failed to do following their title successes in the past. On the back of the winning the Premier League, Chelsea now have a platform to go on and build a legacy at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho. If you speak to many neutral or rival fans of Chelsea, one of the first statements they will make will be regarding Chelsea’s ‘lack’ of history. However people forget that history has to start somewhere and people will have different opinions on when Chelsea started to make their own history. Under Jose Mourinho have a platform to create a legacy and rise to one of the biggest clubs in European football. Here’s how I believe Mourinho and Abramovich can build a legacy:
Strengthening the Squad
One promising aspect of the current squad is how they can win trophies already, with it still not being the finished product. Jose Mourinho famously called the squad of the 2013-14 season ‘a small horse’ and dismissed their title chances. The additions of Diego Costa, Fabregas and the returning Thibaut Courtois have driven the Blues towards the Premier League title. The squad does still need improving in key areas and Mourinho must go out and secure his identified targets in a similar fashion to last season.
A host of names have been mentioned in the latest round of rumours. Gareth Bale being the biggest name to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. A move for the Welshman is extremely unlikely because of the estimated cost of the deal. One player that has been consistently been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge is Koke of Atletico Madrid. For me, I believe Koke would take Chelsea to another level. Chelsea have struggled to find consistency in the central attacking midfield role, in recent weeks, we have seen Eden Hazard and Willian drift in and out of the role. However both look far more dangerous from wide positions.
Bringing through the youth
Jose Mourinho has insisted on bringing through the youth players at Chelsea. With the new rules surrounding financial fair play (FFP) and possible sanctions, it is now more important than ever to bring through youth players from academies. Chelsea’s youth set up have had a magnificent season. The U19’s won the UEFA Youth League in Nyon and the U18’s beat Manchester City comfortably over two legs to win the FA Youth Cup at Stamford Bridge. Such success at youth level shows signs of being able to progress in their careers, whether that be on a loan or featuring in the first team.
The likes of Solanke and Loftus Cheek have been training alongside the first team this season and Mourinho has promised that Ruben Loftus Cheek will be featuring in the first team next season. ‘The Special One’ had been quoted in a press conference saying: “Next season, Ruben will not be a kid in the development process. He will be a first team player”. Mourinho has also said: “I cannot have a squad of 10 men and 10 kids. I must have a squad like we have now, 16 or 17 seniors and three or four kids.”
Thanks to their success in the youth team over the recent years, the players have developed a winning mentality, something that will be perfect for them at Chelsea. As a result of this, now would be the perfect time to ease them into the next stages of their careers with one eye on the future of the club.
Life after Mourinho
Eventually, the day will come where we part company with Jose Mourinho for a second time. This time around, hopefully it will not be so soon. However, for when the moment does arise, he and the fans I am sure would love for him to leave something for the fans to really remember. Not one for one moment am I saying fans don’t remember his time from 2004-2007, but his departure and alleged fall out with Roman Abramovich over shadowed his time at Stamford Bridge.
With the likes of Hazard, Zouma, Willian and more yet to reach their full potential, Chelsea have a platform that can allow them to dominate the Premier League in years to come. That is if they do things in the right way. Under Jose Mourinho these players can fulfil the undoubted potential at Stamford Bridge. Alongside the right additions and a mix of fresh young youth team players, there is no limit to what Chelsea can achieve.
Jose Mourinho does have the chance to dominate in the Premier League in his second stint as Chelsea manager. Mourinho recently spoke to BT Sport after winning the Premier League and he squashed chances of him catching Sir Alex Ferguson’s thirteen Premier League trophies, Mourinho currently has three Premier League medals to his name. He did however, say he could win five more. Throughout his managerial career, Mourinho has never stayed at a club for more than three seasons. It is looking ever more likely that Mourinho will extend his stay at the club and could possibly end his managerial career with Chelsea.
He has to be remembered for what he did in the right way, he has to leave a legacy to be looked back on for years to come. If this current generation want to be remembered like the Busby Babes or Liverpool throughout the 1970’s under Bob Paisely or Pep Guardiola’s Champions League winning squad, they must continue to improve and strengthen whilst they’re on top. As well as adding longevity to Mourinho’s tenure as a manager, by bringing the young talent that will guide the club forward for years to come.
