Here is the second part of our exclusive interview with former Chelsea player Jason Cundy. If you missed the first section of the interview, you can catch up with it here.
We asked Jason what he thought about the arrival of Radamel Falcao and his hopes for next season. Here is what he replied with:
In terms of transfers, there’s lots being reported at the moment, lots of names flying around. We had Falcao confirmed earlier in the week, do you think he can come good next season?
It’s very difficult to say because of the injury that he had. It was an injury that if you go back around 20 years ago, it would have probably ended his career. Might not have done, but probably would have. Technology and science that surgeons have is brilliant, I think that we need to remember that this was serious, he absolutely ripped that knee apart.
We have seen comebacks from that, Van Nistelrooy was the one that springs to mind. It’s one of them injuries that you never return better than what you were. Is he going to get better? Probably not with his age. Can he reach the level he once did? I think the jury is still out, there is certainly still a lot of doubts in my mind as to whether he can return to those days to what he did to us in the Super Cup. It was one of the most devastating displays from a centre forward I have ever seen against Chelsea. He absolutely ripped us apart, scored all different types of goals.
I don’t see that same Falcao, his body languages displays one of someone who has lost not just a yard of pace but certainly a bit of confidence. He doesn’t look like he plays with a smile on his face, if you look back at that game, look at his energy, the bounce, the enthusiasm he had, he seems to have lost some of that about his game. Which in certain players, is vital. We saw it with Torres, where his shoulders seem to slope and his head was down. But when he did something magic, you’d see the energy, the confidence flow through his veins. If Jose can get that back, get that player back to anywhere near that kind of level, we have a frightening striker on our hands. I still have to be convinced because of the injury. I’ve not seen much of him at Man United, I know he was rushed back for the World Cup which was possibly a mistake because he never made it in the end. He’s just been at the Copa America, which by all accounts he didn’t play particularly well. So he hasn’t had a rest this summer.
I’d be much more convinced if he had a full summer break and then come back to us. He had a disappointing season at Man United, a disappointing Copa America, not a lot of time off. If anyone can get him playing, Jose can. When I saw him play against us at the Bridge, there was a chance he had where he managed to get in behind Ivanovic and he drilled it into the side netting, it reminded me a little bit of Torres. Didn’t look comfortable, snatched at his shot, went for power rather than being composed in front of goal.
I am hoping that if he has a good pre-season, Jose will use him sparingly. I know for a fact Chelsea fans will give him time, as we’ve proved with the Torres scenario. The fans were patience and in the end we gave him as much time and space as he needed. In the end it was clear he was not the player he once was. I’m optimistic, but I will reserve my judgement of whether he can return to that player, I hope he proves me wrong.
As for other potential arrivals, where do you think the team need to improve or add to?
Well, clearly we need another goalkeeper, that’s obvious. With Cech moving on, that’s an area, I know Begovic and Green have both been mentioned. It wouldn’t surprise me if Luis moves on, so therefore another left back will certainly be needed. Jose seems to be looking at the centre half area, Varane was someone he was linked with a number of times last season and again a couple of months ago. Clearly Benitez is not going to do any deals with Jose. We do have cover in Zouma and Ivanovic, although he’s only played there a couple of times. Liverpool I think once I can think of, maybe an FA Cup game this year or a League Cup game. He clearly doesn’t see Ivanovic as a centre half, he sees him as a right back. We also have Cahill, so centre back is an area.
I think it’s going to be a case of replacing players, if Remy moves on, then we’ll need a replacement, if Oscar moves, we’ll need a replacement. If Mikel moves on, we’re going to need cover for Matic. I would like to see us go out and buy another striker in all honesty. I am not so sure that Remy is the long term answer. Defensively, we look very solid as we have done. If players move on, I think we’ll see players come in.
Do you think we’re at risk of standing still in the market? We saw of few years ago with Man City, how they failed to strengthen.
I think we have a young enough squad. I think there’s always that concern, you often hear people say the best to strengthen is when you’ve won the title. We’ve gone out and brought in Falcao. I wonder who will come back on loan. There’s the Loftus-Cheek situation. Is he going to get a chance? Probably not. He may find himself out on loan, if anyone is going to come through the youth team, it’s probably going to be him. Maybe he’ll see him as a replacement for Mikel. Now FFP rules have changed again, I’d like to see a marquee signing, particularly upfront. Bamford is not ready yet, he has only played in the Championship, so I’d like see strength in our attacking area.
We’ll about Oscar as well. If there was a player that would make way during games last season, it was Oscar. I wonder if maybe Oscar moves out another number 10 comes in.
There have been lots of reports surrounding Cuadrado lately, one minute he’s staying, the next he’s not. Do you see any truths in the rumours?
Well, to be brutally honest he didn’t have a great time when he did play. He looked like a fish out of water. It is a very difficult time though, don’t forget, he came into the best club in the country, he came into the club that is very tight. He came into a system that the players knew exactly what they were doing. You saw Schurrle move away, who understand and knew how to play, knew what the manager required. It’s a tough market, January. You don’t often get those deals right, they’re very tough I find. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go out and buy players in January, but I think it’s a very tough market to get right. He needs to be given a bit more time. Jose tends to make his mind up on players very quickly. He either trusts you immediately or tends not to. It’s going to come down to him, a personal preference.
If he feels as if he has made a mistake, it wouldn’t surprise me if he moves him on. He’s not afraid to do that at all. He’s had a tough time Cuadrado, you also get the feeling from all the speculation from the press that there’s no smoke without fire. Should the club decide he is not quite what they expected him to be, they need to move him on before it becomes a problem. You can get away with it when you win a title, you can’t get away with over the course of 12 months and perhaps things don’t work out so well. If the rumours are true, it wouldn’t surprise me if he moves on.
And finally, what are you hoping to see from next season?
Well I think as Man City have proved, it’s very difficult to win back to back titles. We done it 05/06, I think that shows a true stamp of a class side and a class manager to do that. Because we’re being shot at. We’re the champions, we’re the side that everyone wants to beat, and we’re the side that has raised the standards. Everyone is now trying to catch up to us. So first and foremost, without question, win the title. I think Arsenal, from what I have seen in the market so far, will be one of the strongest Arsenal sides we’ve seen this decade under Wenger. I fear them at the moment more than any other side. I think they’ve got the minerals and players that can go on and put in top class performances, I question the manager and his mentality is right in the big games. If they sign a holding midfielder, or someone like a Vidal. I think they’ll become a very tough opposition.
Then I want to see us progress in the Champions League. It was very disappointing two seasons ago against Atletico, we were well beaten. I think it’s about time we got to another final frankly. It’s been a bit too long. I loved to see us progress, not to just get to final but have a really good Champions League cup run and of course another cup would be brilliant.
The order of importance is the same every year for me, Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and then the League Cup.
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