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Sterling disappointing, Aubameyang useless: what record for Chelsea recruits?

2023-04-18T06:49:46.566Z


In unfavorable tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Chelsea did not reap the fruits of its many and expensive transfers this season.


If the matches were played in the transfer window, even Real Madrid would not stand against the voracious Chelsea, hyperactive this winter and last summer.

But it is on the ground that the Blues will have to catch up this Tuesday (9 p.m.), in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League, after their defeat in Madrid a week ago (2-0).

Frank Lampard, who succeeded Graham Potter who was sacked on April 2, will still rely on the many expensive recruits, whose record has so far been one of the darkest.

To discover

  • Champions League fixtures and results

They disappoint

Of course, it's not all their fault, because Chelsea have changed coach twice this season, and because it takes a little time for mayonnaise to set.

But it is clear that some recruits are, for the time being, not at the level.

Marc Cucurella, bought for 65 M€ during the summer, is not the radiant left side that he was in Brighton.

Sometimes used in central defense, the 24-year-old Spaniard is looking for himself.

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Same for the Ukrainian prodigy Mykhaylo Mudryk, 22, recruited for 70 M€ at Shakhtar Donetsk in the winter.

His record: 10 matches, 6 starts, 0 goals and 2 assists.

Too early to draw a conclusion, however frustrating it may be for the Chelsea bosses.

For Raheem Sterling, on the other hand, the observation is clear: he is not good.

So much so that, according to The Athletic, the Blues already want to sell the 28-year-old English striker, snatched for 56 M € from Manchester City last summer.

They hold the road

Cocorico: the French are among Chelsea's best signings this season.

Wesley Fofana has been hampered by a major knee injury which deprived him of 20 club appearances (and the World Cup).

A good month of March reassured the 22-year-old defender.

His compatriot and partner at the back, Benoît Badiashile, also quickly acclimatized to the London air, he who left Monaco this winter.

Kalidou Koulibaly (31) is between two waters, not zero but not a hero either.

Wesley Fofana moved from Leicester to Chelsea last summer for €80m.

HANNAH MCKAY

In front of them on the pitch is Enzo Fernandez, for whom Chelsea signed an astronomical check for €121m payable to Benfica.

The Argentinian midfielder is perhaps the best Blue this season.

He has started all matches (14) since his arrival.

He shines with his passes and his vision of the game. A bright spot in the dark, like the whimsical João Félix.

The Portuguese, on loan from Atlético de Madrid, has only scored 2 goals in 14 games, but he brings dynamism to a distressing attack (30 goals in 31 Premier League matches).

They are useless

They must be wondering what they are doing at Chelsea, and vice versa.

Several players testify to a reckless strategy on the transfer window.

Failing in Barcelona, ​​Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had gone to Chelsea for 12 M€.

With 2 goals in 19 matches including 10 starts, the Gabonese had a minimal impact, to the point of being deregistered from the Champions League in favor of Mudryk and Félix.

Denis Zakaria is on loan from Juventus.

His job ?

Wax the bench.

The Swiss midfielder has played 11 of the 27 matches in which he was available.

It's still better than Carney Chukwuemeka, defector from Aston Villa last summer for 18 M€.

The 19-year-old Englishman was content with 241 minutes of play. A recruitment for the future, in theory.

But he would surely like to play football, a little.

Carney Chukwuemeka (here with Graham Potter) has previously played for three managers at Chelsea.

MOLLY DARLINGTON

Noni Madueke (21) may have the same thoughts.

The English winger exploded at PSV Eindhoven, who sold him for €35m in the winter.

At Chelsea, who did not register him in C1, he started 3 entry matches before spending most of his time on the bench.

Finally, David Datro Fofana is a mystery.

He signed from Norwegian club Molde for €12m on January 1.

The Ivorian center-forward played 3 matches, including a start against Southampton, in the league on February 18 (0-1), where he left at halftime.

From ?

Two appearances in… reserve team, and no summons to the A. It is probably not on him that Chelsea, 11th in the Premier League, counts to go up in the standings, and even less to overthrow Real Madrid.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-04-18

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