CHELSEA has one of the best academies in world football and the 1-0 win in the FA Cup in Barnsley showed how important the youth movement has become.
The Blues struggled to beat their tenacious and intense championship hosts to reach a home quarter-finals with Sheffield United – and they have to thank the players who grew up in Cobham.
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Reece James and matchwinner Tammy Abraham starred as Chelsea’s youngsters dwarfed many of their older players in Barnsley’s 1-0 winPhoto credit: PA: Press Association
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James threw the ball to Abraham to ruin the Tykes nightPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty
The same academy that produced John Terry is now the one that produces players who are vital to Chelsea’s first team.
First under Frank Lampard in the last few seasons and now also under the new boss Thomas Tuchel.
The Blues have invested heavily in signing over the past few years, but some of them didn’t show up at Oakwell at all.
Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic were particularly poor and did not stand up to be counted when needed.
Barnsley pushed consistently and gave Chelsea no time on the ball. In fact, the Tykes were very unlucky to lose the match.
The home team’s tactics caused some major problems for Chelsea, most notably Ziyech and Pulisic who failed to deal with Barnsley’s physical and close attentions.
So it was up to the academy guys to get up and save Chelsea, as they have done many times over the past two seasons.
Reece James came over and was absolutely gorgeous on the right. But it was Tammy Abraham who starred the show, scoring the all-important winning goal from a James assistant.
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Tammy Abraham stuck the clincher on 64 minutes after a cross from Reece James after brilliant work by Billy GilmourPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty
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The academy product Billy Gilmour set up the winner of Chelsea for Tammy AbrahamPhoto credit: Reuters
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Thomas Tuchel will have learned a lot about the character of Chelsea from his hard-fought 1-0 win at BarnsleyPhoto credit: Reuters
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But not only did he score a goal and play well, Abraham was also behind, putting his body on the line late – he saved a particular goal after passing a try over the bar while standing on the line and defending a corner .
Another Cobham-created player, Faustino Anjori, n, came and helped Chelsea win the match with some good touch and physicality.
Billy Gilmour isn’t a Chelsea product – he grew up at Rangers and joined the blues as a senior school – but he, too, was heavily involved in whatever they did well that night.
This just goes to show that these Chelsea Academy players are good enough to mix with the best and they will continue to be top notch players regardless of who the manager is.
Chelsea were very lucky to win the game that night, but fair play for Tuchel because he continued to show confidence in the youth.
You won the game for him at Oakwell.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who foiled Callum Brittain, will be delighted with the goal he conceded in the FA Cup round of 16 victoryPhoto credit: Getty Images – GettyChelsea boss Thomas Tuchel releases N’Golo Kante in the new double-six role
