Chelsea has sold its stars many times before and those sales did not impede team progress.
Chelsea’s star man, Eden Hazard, was voted the second best player at this year’s World Cup. Since then, there has been speculation about his future at Chelsea.
Courtesy: Sky Sports
Real Madrid is believed to be vying for his signature after losing out on their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, to Juventus. Should Hazard end up with Real, then the betting line is that Chelsea won’t make it into the top four of the Premier League this year.
But if a sale does materialize, it won’t the first time that Chelsea has ditched a star. The team has done it many times before–and has always gotten away with it.
–After winning both the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012, Chelsea sold important members of the pack that won those trophies.
–In 2015 (when Jose Mourinho took over the reigns) big stars David Luiz and Juan Mata were sold. The team went on to win the league title.
–In 2016 (when Antonio Conte was hired after Mourinho was relieved of duties) the team won the league and reached the Cup final despite selling stars Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Ramires, and Didier Drogba.
–At the end of Conte’s first season, the club off-loaded stars Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, and John Obi Mikel. But guess what? The team still attained some silverware!
What will happen this time? Let’s start by answering what we know for sure.
Hazard v. Huddersfield (photo, 90min)
On August 11, Chelsea beat Huddersfield, 3-0, under the guidance of its new manager, Maurizio Sarri. Hazard didn’t start the game. He entered with his team already ahead, 2 nil, and later aided the cause with an assist. In other words, Chelsea won without Hazard leading the way.
We also know that the transfer window in Spain closes at the end of August. In the meantime, Sarri says that he has spoken to Hazard “on many occasions and the player looks set to stay.”
If Hazard leaves, will that deal Chelsea a big blow? Consider what a fan said last weekend on Duta Sport: “If you are a Chelsea fan and didn’t take a screenshot of yesterday’s Premier League Table, then it might have been the last time you have seen that happening this season.”
I look at it differently.
I don’t think Chelsea will fall outside the top four. In fact, I see the team bringing home another trophy–just as Chelsea has done in the past.
I think it will happen again–regardless of Hazard’s whereabouts.
