The world of football currently finds itself in a state of stagnation. Coronavirus or COVID-19 has halted everyday life, and this has transpired to the footballing calendar.
Presuming that we do have a 2020-2021 season, it would seem apparent that the career of Ethan Ampadu must take off.
The 19-year-old is on loan at RB Leipzig and has had a frustrating time in Germany. The defensive midfielder has only appeared three times in the Bundesliga and they’ve all been from the bench.
Ampadu’s best performance came in the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur, where he played in a centre back role and produced a masterclass. He completed the most passes, had the most touches, and had the highest passing accuracy of 95%.
The Welshman received many plaudits from Chelsea fans, and they were hoping for his return.
Since then it has been rather lacklustre for Ampadu, who is becoming frequently frustrated by his lack of game time. His last appearance was back in December, it seems Leipzig are favouring more senior players in their bid to win their first-ever Bundesliga trophy.
So, why should Frank Lampard give him a starting role next season? Ampadu is an extraordinary young talent and has the confidence of a seasoned veteran on the ball.
This season, Lampard has taken chances with Tammy Abraham, Flkayo Tomori, Mason Mount, and Reece James.
These players all had chances to develop in the championship and in hindsight, the same thing should have happened for Ampadu.
He has still gained vital experience on the international stage, Ampadu has already been capped 13 times by Wales. Over the last few years, he has solidified his place into Ryan Giggs’ plans.
Success from playing youngsters
Do you remember the start of the Premier League season?
Chelsea and their baby-faced players were making waves. Players like Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount showcased their talents and got the world of football talking.
Chelsea have the fourth-youngest squad in the league, with an average age of just 25.9.
They now find themselves in a strong position for Champions League qualification. This continued faith in youngsters must be providing Ampadu with some hope for next years campaign.
Chelsea’s midfield is currently being dominated by an 18-year old, Billy Gilmour has Stamford Bridge excited, his performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup was nothing short of a masterclass.
The Blues have got big success from playing their youngsters this season.
It just shows that teams don’t need to spend through the roof, they just need to show a little bit more faith in youth.
Diamonds are made from pressure
Ryan Giggs, Gareth Bale, and Ian Rush are all legends of the beautiful game.
But they were also once inexperienced risks, who needed minutes on the pitch to develop and grow.
This is exactly what Ampadu needs, and it has to be at Chelsea. He doesn’t need to be loaned out to another European club.
The Welshman deserves a chance to prove himself in the Premier League.
He has shown so much promise when playing on the international scene and this will surely transpire to club football. Ampadu is a player that likes pressure, get him on the frontline and you’ll have a chance of making a diamond.
The Frank Lampard Legacy
Every football fan wants to see a club legend manage their team one day. Frank Lampard has an eternal connection with Chelsea F.C. The transition from player to manager has been promising for Lamps.
At Derby County we learned a lot about his managerial style, starting youth and playing dynamic football was something he did from the very beginning.
The media, fans and the board are all backing him to bring the glory days back to Stamford Bridge.
This legacy could be made by creating a Chelsea team that is dependent on youth. A squad that has academy graduates who have been brought up through the ranks.
Chelsea have such a fantastic youth setup, and they choose to loan out so many of their players.
The majority of these players never get to make an appearance for the club, and they don’t live up to their true potential.
This simply can’t be the case for Ampadu, he is too talented and has a real chance of finding stardom on the football pitch.
Next season will probably be another loan spell for Ampadu, but it would be so refreshing to see him get some game time for Chelsea.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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