Pat Nevin: Silverware and Champions League football would be massive for Chelsea
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has told NewBettingOffers.co.uk that he believes Chelsea are nowhere near challenging for major honours in domestic and European campaigns, but silverware from the Conference League and a Champions League finish in the Premier League would be huge for the club.
Nevin reckons that Chelsea have been showing steady improvement since the new owners came in, claiming that any silverware will be a morale booster for owners, fans and the players themselves heading into next season on the front foot.
Speaking to NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Nevin said: “Winning the Europa Conference League would certainly be a step in the right direction for Chelsea. If anything, it’ll give the board and the fans a bit of belief that the project is working – because that’s exactly what this Chelsea side is at the moment. It’s hugely important for the players, too, to believe in what they’re doing at the club, and winning trophies is a great way to do that.
“They’ve brought in lots of young players from all over the world and it looked a bit like a scattergun approach but if you start picking up some silverware, people are going to start thinking there’s some method to the madness and there’s some intelligence behind the whole thing.
“It doesn’t really matter what competition it is, it’s always nice to win something. It gives you a fabulous lift and a boost for the upcoming season, not to mention the pre-season. It will be massive if they can win the Conference League as well as secure Champions League football next season through the Premier League.
“Considering Chelsea a few years ago were League title winners, contending at the top of the table, Champions of Europe and a giant of a football club, it seems strange to label a fifth in the League and winning the Conference League a huge success! But it will be, it’ll be a big jump from what we’ve seen from them over the past two seasons. This will be the first step in getting them back to where they were.”
Chelsea aren’t good enough at the moment to win a major trophy
Nevin also discussed the importance of the summer transfer window, claiming that it’ll be hugely important for Chelsea to recruit well over the next few months in order to hit the ground running when the Premier League returns in August.
“I think the current squad is very far off becoming anywhere close to the Chelsea team of old – they’re just not good enough. That said, that’s not going to be what’s expected of them by the owners at the moment.
“I think a few of them are good enough, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer are all brilliant players and it’ll be a case of building a squad around them. Liverpool have just won the league with the same group of players from last season, and they’re still adding this summer!
“It’ll be a huge summer for Chelsea in terms of acquisitions and who they can get through the door to bolster their chances next season. What they don’t want to happen is to reach the Champions League and then make some signings that don’t work out – that’d be horrifying.
“I’ve seen steady improvement at the club since the new owners have come in, albeit it inconsistent at times! I hope and expect the same to continue, but to say this current team is capable of challenging in the big European competitions would be silly, they’re miles away.”
Arsenal’s season has been ‘disappointing’
Although not deeming Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side a ‘failure’ this season, he does believe they have been disappointing.
“There was a scenario up until the weekend where Declan Rice managed to secure three points for Arsenal, that the Gunners could finish out of the top five. That would have been a real shocker for Arsenal!
“People are throwing words like ‘failure’ with Arsenal this season, but I’d say it has been more of a disappointment. Even though they played fantastically to brush aside Real Madrid, they had a really tall order to fulfil playing this new style of Paris Saint-Germain team, it’s been tough for them.
“What’s been surprising to me is that they’ve effectively shot themselves in the foot by not buying a number nine for two years, something everyone and their dog has been telling them to do for all that time! It’s their fault, and I task you to find me an Arsenal fan who disagrees with that. Their recruitment team clearly thought they didn’t need one, but they do.
“Yes, it’s been a disappointment of a season for them but the fans will be arguing their case against the Chelsea fans in the pub about who has had a better season! The clubs care about different things, though, Arsenal will be looking to guarantee Champions League football next season and build on their team so that they’re bigger and better next year.
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