London is Blue Dispatch #091

In the summer, Chelsea’s scouting apparatus is likely to be hot on the heels of unicorn right centerbacks who are under 23, are freak athletes and offer positional versatility. They are also likely to be closely monitoring a 1v1 left winger in the same age range. Their searches will span most of Europe, Brazil, Argentina and elsewhere. A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

How Josh Acheampong moves this elegantly is astounding considering he has been frozen out thrice this season – once before his contract renewal, one when playing at -14 degrees vs Astana and one after the ink on the new deal had dried. Yet here he was, back starting for the first time after Trevoh Chalobah’s return from Palace, playing like he’d never been away. One wonders how despite Wes Fofana and Reece James’ injury nightmares and Gusto’s indifferent season has a talent of this magnitude been left to play at a level he has outgrown some time ago, but with six centerbacks competing for two places at the start of the year, erratic squad planning continues to hurt the club in more ways than one.

In Warsaw he ticked off every box and more. Gliding past challenges with consummate ease, playing at FB, inverting into midfield, a position he had previously never played at youth level – this was evidence of what happens when elite footballing education meets freak athlete with the drive to succeed at his boyhood club. A 107 touches, each inching him closer to Legia’s half where he spent most of the game, all 6’4+ of him eating up ground with and without the ball. Give him a chance from here on, and the club may just save spending 50m on a player they do not need and then brainstorm over which new PSR loophole to exploit.

As Mykhailo Mudryk awaits judgement and Jadon Sancho managing 2 PL goals in 25 appearances and Pedro Neto proving effectual elsewhere, it is as surprising to see Tyrique George flitting in between the senior and the youth as often as he has. Today was always coming after a season of firsts – first minutes vs Servette, vs start vs Noah, first assist(s) vs Morecambe and now vs goal vs Legia. Anyone that has seen a highlight reel of the young Englishman’s shooting at youth level comes away perplexed at just how absurdly good he is – the lightning quick separation, a shot that looks like it lacks the requisite power, and yet darts straight into top corners with laser-guided precision. That is yet to be seen at senior level, but without a doubt, that is coming too.

Chelsea’s adventures in the UEFA Conference League continue to offer tantalizing glimpses of the weaponry still under development in reserve. There was Sam Rak-Sakyi’s metronomic display against Astana, roaming, pirouetting away from pressure, misplacing just the one of out 89 passes on the evening. There was Shim Mheuka’s header almost introducing another youth star to the masses. There is enough, more than enough. And Chelsea’s decision-makers are undoubtedly wise enough to know that it will shine, whether here or elsewhere.

The last 10 odd games of the season will offer a pretty honest picture of the club’s fate in the short-term, but this was another reminder of what they already have for the long term. The UECL may not be where the Blues want to be, but it is undeniable that the Cobham has found a stage to shine on because of it.