I said that the Bayern Munich result could have been worse… I wasn’t wrong!
The Germans showed in their 8-2 win over Barcelona that our meagre 4-1 loss was, in fact, quite respectable.
It is now just over three weeks until the new season gets underway and we can expect plenty of transfer action over the next ten days or so.
WILLIAN’S LEGECY
After eight long years, Willian’s time at Chelsea came to an end last week as he did a ‘Luiz’ and joined Arsenal.
For all his short-comings, and there were a few of those, Willian was something of a cult hero at Chelsea.
From the moment he turned down a move to Sp*rs he was always going to carry a certain credibility among us Chelsea fans.
On the pitch he scored some huge goals for us, there was the double in the FA Cup final against Sp*rs, the Man of the Match performance against Barca and countless screamers scored from the edge of the box.
He won two Premier League titles with us and was even given the Player of the Year award back in 2016.
It is always a shame to lose a player to another Premier League club. Mata to United hurt, Cech to Arsenal was just strange but with Willian and Luiz I don’t quite feel the same disappointment.
Hakim Ziyech is an upgrade on the Brazillian and Arsenal have given him a £200k three-year deal. Players move from Arsenal to Chelsea to win trophies. Players move from Chelsea to Arsenal to stay in London.
TWO DOWN… A LOT MORE TO GO
Both Willian and Pedro have now left the pearly Cobham gates this summer but there are plenty more who need to do the same.
If it is true we are in for a goalkeeper – Nick Pope and Jan Oblak looking most likely – then surely we need to be rid of Kepa, either permanently or on loan.
Then there is Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Emerson and many many more.
With Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell all looking more and more likely as the weeks go on, we will need some money coming in to finance what looks like the busiest transfer window he have had since 2004.
I still feel we need two centre backs and a goalkeeper but i’m sure Frank is thinking the same and it looks as though he is being backed in the transfer market as Chilwell is his first option at left-back.
Although after watching Sevilla beat Man United, I think we should go for Sergio Regulion.
He looks one hell of a player.
RICE IS PROPER CHELS
If we are to sign Declan Rice, we will have to fork out some serious cash.
A lot of Chelsea fans would rather see the money go elsewhere but what Rice offers is something any other potential signing lacks… he’s a player who would do anything to be in blue.
Rice is a Chelsea fan, his family are Chelsea fans and he was part of the academy and is best mates with Mason Mount.
While Mount is definitely a blue blood, he is from Portsmouth and has a soft spot for Pompey.
We can let that slide though.
You can’t put a price on that passion, it would be unfair to say Rice could become the next John Terry but if he has 50% of the passion JT had for the club, I say go all out and bring him home.
The poor bloke deserves better than another relegation dog fight with West Ham.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY… WAY TOO EASILY
I wonder if anyone saw Kevin de Bruyne winning the Premier League Player of the Season award after we sold him to Wolfsburg back in 2015?
The Belgian midfielder is one of the top three or four players in world football and is definitely the best in the Premier League.
He never got a fair go at Chelsea as Jose preferred Oscar and Mata, to be fair at the time they looked the better players.
Now Man City’s best player and with over 20 assists to his name, there will be a couple of heads hanging in shame at the Bridge, and rightly so.
Honestly, I was just happy the Premier League came to their senses and gave him the award instead of the Geordie Lee Cattermole that is Jordan Henderson.
Congrats Kevin, and sorry it never worked out. I truly am.
Dream Team is of course taking a short break while the team get the brand-new game ready for the 20/21 season. For those who fancy joining my mini-league once again, I’ll share details when we know more!