JOE COLE says Tammy Abraham and the rest of Chelsea’s young stars have no choice but to rise to the challenge of new arrivals – and then tipped Ben Chilwell to become the latest to new face in at Stamford Bridge.
The £47million capture of Timo Werner has given Abraham competition for the striking role in West London next season while Hakim Ziyech is another already arriving this summer.
Joe Cole says Tammy Abraham must rise to the challenge of the new arrivals and backed Ben Chilwell to join them at Chelsea
More could follow, including Leicester left-back Chilwell, to give Frank Lampard’s emerging young players another test as they try to prove they are good enough at the very highest level.
And former Chelsea star Cole says if they can’t rise to the challenge then they are not equipped to be Chelsea players anyway.
Cole, 38, said: “Tammy Abraham will embrace the challenge of Werner coming in and will improve because his attitude is second to none.
“That’s the nature of the beast, if you are at any big club, you know that there is a whole team of people scouring the world looking for someone to come in to take your job, to do your job better than you within the team.
“Players at the top level should know that is normal at a club like Chelsea. If you can’t accept that as a reality playing for such a massive club, that’s the reason why certain players stay at middle clubs.
“Certainly the lads who have come through the system at Chelsea who I’ve got to know over the years, their attitude and education that they have been based on, they will embrace the challenge.
“Frank understands the importance of competitive squads to drive you on and push you, I think the players will accept it as part of the reality of playing for Chelsea and it will improve them, I believe in that.”
The Chelsea legend is now a pundit for BT Sport
On defensive target Chilwell, Cole added: “Similar to Werner he fits the ethos – he is young, he’s hungry, he’s explosive and athletic, and I really like Ben.
“In Brendan he’s got a great manager and a great team up at Leicester. But Chelsea’s a step up from Leicester.
“I know they are sitting above Chelsea in the table at the moment but having the opportunity to work with Frank and improve would be immense for him.
“He’s got the left-back position for England in his hands at the moment. My advice would be to keep performing, keep consistent and if he does do that he can be England’s left-back and if he does come to Chelsea, Chelsea’s left back for many years.”
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Lampard warns Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham he must ‘improve’ amid competition from Timo Werner next season
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
