As
Chelsea lift the FA Youth Cup for the fifth year in a row, we look back at
the previous winning squads to see what the future might hold for the
current crop at Cobham...
The Blues underlined their Youth Cup dominance with an emphatic 7-1
aggregate victory over Arsenal on Monday, which secured their seventh title
in a decade.
The victory saw Jody Morris' side, featuring the likes of England U17 World
Cup winner Callum Hudson-Odoi, emulate Manchester United's Busby Babes, who
were the last side to win the trophy in five successive years in the 1950s.
Yet for all of their success, Chelsea's failure to provide a pathway for
their young players into their first team has often been criticised.
Before this season's triumph, 40 budding professionals played in an FA Youth
Cup final for Chelsea since 2013/14. Reassuringly for the Class of 2018, all
40 players who played in the four previous finals are still playing football
to this day, although there are varying degrees of success.
As another group of aspiring professionals look to the next chapter of their
careers, we examine what happened to their predecessors to see if it can
provide an insight into their futures...
First team
Thirteen FA Youth Cup winners have gone on to appear for the Chelsea first
team - that's 32.5 per cent.
Andreas Christensen is the standout performer having cemented his place in
Antonio Conte's side this season, racking up 41 appearances in the process.
Next on the list is Ruben Loftus-Cheek who has ran out 32 times for the
Blues before joining Crystal Palace on loan this season. But the remaining
13 graduates have managed only 25 appearances between them.
First team apps of Chelsea Youth Cup winners (since 13/14)
Player Apps
| Player |
Apps |
| Andreas Christensen |
41 |
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek |
32 |
| Charly Musonda |
7 |
| Ola Aina |
5 |
| Tammy Abraham |
2 |
| Jake Clarke-Salter |
2 |
| Cullum Hudson-Odoi |
2 |
| Jeremie Boga |
1 |
| Isaiah Brown |
1 |
| Kyle Scott |
1 |
| Domonic Solanke |
1 |
| Fikayo Tomori |
1 |
Out on loan
Much has been made of Chelsea's policy of loaning players out across the
globe. They currently have 37 players plying their trade on a temporary
basis elsewhere, 16 of whom tasted FA Youth Cup glory with the Blues.
Of those 16, only seven had a taste of first-team action before being sent
out on loan - with Celtic forward Charly Musonda leading the way with seven
appearances.
Chelsea's Youth Cup winners since 13/14 currently on loan
Player Loaned to First team apps at Chelsea
| Player Loaned |
To |
Apps At Chelsea |
| Tammy Abraham |
Swansea City |
2 |
| Nathan Baxter |
Woking |
0 |
| Mitchell Beeney |
Sligo Rangers |
0 |
| Jeremie Boga |
Birmingham |
1 |
| Jake Ckarke-Salter |
Sunderland |
2 |
| Bradley Collins |
Forest Green |
0 |
| Fankaty Dabo |
Vitesse |
0 |
| Jay Dasilva |
Charlton |
0 |
| Jordan Houghton |
Doncaster |
0 |
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek |
Crystal Palace |
32 |
| Mason Mount |
Vitesse |
0 |
| Charly Musonda |
Celtic |
7 |
| Kasey Palmer |
Derby |
0 |
| Fikayo Tomori |
Hull |
1 |
| Ike Ugbo |
MK Dons |
0 |
Continue development at Chelsea
As many clubs do, it's clear Chelsea view the FA Youth Cup as a key
component in the development of their young players. After gaining valuable
experience in the tournament, thoughts turn to the next challenge - notably
UEFA Youth League campaigns.
As such, 40 per cent of the Youth Cup winners are still learning their trade
at Chelsea, even if first-team opportunities are hard to come by.
Youth Cup winners since 13/14 still at Chelsea
Nathan Baxter Juan Castillo Trevoh Chalobah Isaac Christie-Davies Jamie
Cumming Cole Dasilva Conor Gallagher Joshua Grant Marc Guehi Reece James
Jacob Maddox George McEachran Ruben Sammut Harvey St Clair Martell
Taylor-Crossdale Tariq Uwakwe
Leave Chelsea
Three players have proven that fleeing the Chelsea nest does not necessarily
condemn you to a career in the wilderness.
Dominic Solanke, having made just one first-team appearance for the Blues,
opted to continue his development at Liverpool. The 20-year-old has featured
24 times under Jurgen Klopp this season, picked up his first England cap in
November's friendly against Brazil and could even get his hands on a
Champions League winners' medal.
Solanke has an outside chance of being included in Gareth Southgate's squad
for this summer's World Cup, where he could cross paths with former
team-mate Mukhtar Ali, who has earned two caps for Saudi Arabia following
his permanent move to Vitesse Arnhem.
Isak Ssewankambo, who like Ali did not make the transition into the first
team at Chelsea, has taken up an opportunity to play in Scandinavia with
Malmo and Molde.
What's next?
While Chelsea fans might pine for more academy stars in their squad,
burdening young talent with the pressures of first-time football before they
are ready can backfire.
Giving youngsters a glimpse of first-team football, only to send them away
on loans from which few return, can and has had similarly adverse
consequences.
Either way, it appears the decision-makers are already plotting for the
future, with Morris confirming Hudson-Odoi's next step will be considered
this summer.
"We will need to see what the manager thinks come the summer about what goes
on because he has been in and around the first team a lot," he said. "He has
still got a lot to do [to become a complete player].
"He will get a lot of plaudits because he has shown in glimpses that he has
got real, real quality. He showed in other glimpses that he needs to mature
and he needs to follow instructions.
"He has got a lot to learn, and so have a lot of players on the pitch, but
he has certainly got a chance, if he keeps his feet on the ground and
matures properly. There's a young kid there that has got a fantastic amount
of talent.
"Nobody wants to see him succeed more than me, some of the things he does
with a football is fantastic at times but you also want to shake him at
times."
Whether Chelsea are able to utilise the talent of Hudson-Odoi and his
team-mates remains to be seen. One thing that is certain though is that it
will be a journey worth paying close attention to.
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