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EVERY time Kevin De Bruyne or Mohamed Salah puts in a Man of the Match performance, Chelsea fans are hit with a pinch of sadness.
Unfortunately for Blues supporters, those two are now undisputed world superstars.

De Bruyne has evolved into arguably the best midfielder on the planet since leaving ChelseaCredit: AFP – Getty

But, before they reached their current elite level, they were once allowed to leave Stamford Bridge as underplayed, underachieving youngsters.
And they’re not the only two either.
We’ve taken a look at FIVE players who failed to make the grade at Chelsea who are now superstars elsewhere.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE
NOW quite possibly the best midfielder on the planet, it’s barely-believable De Bruyne was once considered a Chelsea misfit.

Having signed from Belgian side Genk in 2011-12, the now-Manchester City star played just two Premier League games for the Blues.
On the periphery of the first-team squad, De Bruyne was loaned to Werder Bremen, before being sold to Wolfsburg for just £16.7m.
There, De Bruyne’s class shone through and his career took off, joining City for £55million in 2015.
The pass-master has won two Premier League trophies at City in easily the club’s greatest era – as part of one of England’s most dominant teams.

MOHAMED SALAH

Salah has gone from strength to strength since leaving Chelsea, including massive successes at LiverpoolCredit: AFP or licensors
SALAH joined Chelsea from Basel in 2014 – but played just 13 times in the league, scoring twice.
In 2015 and 2016, the Egyptian was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma – before joining the latter permanently, in a deal worth around £11m.
After just one season in the Italian capital, Liverpool were surprise suitors, bringing Salah back to the Premier League in a deal worth £36.7m.
In his first season at the Reds, Salah broke the Premier League record for most goals in a 38-game season.
In his second season, he won the Champions League.
And in his third – and most-recent – season, Salah inspired Liverpool to Premier League success.
Salah is now easily ranked as one of the world’s best forwards – and will always be the one who got away from Chelsea.
ROMELU LUKAKU

Romelu Lukaku was barely given a sniff at Chelsea and is now thriving at Inter MilanCredit: AP:Associated Press
AFTER joining Chelsea from Anderlecht as a youngster in 2011, Lukaku was tipped for greatness.
However, he played just ten times in the Premier League, was loaned to West Brom and ultimately sold to Everton.
Lukaku immediately showed his potential and scored 53 Premier League goals in just 110 games.
The Belgian moved to Manchester United in a £75m deal where he maintained a decent scoring record, but generally underwhelmed.
Now, Lukaku is finally living up to his incredible promise, shining at Inter Milan under another ex-Chelsea man, boss Antonio Conte.
Lukaku has scored 41 goals in just 58 games at the Italian giants.
NATHAN AKE

Nathan Ake is a Man City star and Holland regular having quit Chelsea in 2017Credit: Reuters
THE Dutch defender joined Chelsea’s youth ranks from Feyenoord in 2011, before moving to the senior squad a year later.
But Ake made just seven appearances for the Blues in the Premier League and was loaned out to Reading, Watford and Bournemouth.
Ake eventually found a permanent home on the south coast and became a superstar for the Cherries.
Bournemouth fought hard to keep Ake for three years – in which he played over 100 times in the Premier League.
But with Manchester United and City both knocking, the Cherries eventually cashed in to the tune of £40m following their relegation in the summer.
Now at the Etihad, Ake is a star of both Pep Guardiola’s City and European force Holland who seems destined to only shine brighter as time goes on.
NEMANJA MATIC

Nemanja Matic left and rejoined Chelsea for nearly 20 times the original feeCredit: Getty – Pool
SIGNED from now-defunct Slovak side Kosice in 2009, Matic was tipped to become an attacking midfield superstar at the Blues.
The Serbian midfielder had played just twice in the Premier League and was loaned out to Vitesse in Holland.
But after two years – and a switch to a more defensive role – Matic was sold to Benfica as part of the 2011 deal that saw David Luiz arrive at Stamford Bridge.
But after starring at Benfica, Chelsea splashed out £21m – nearly 20 times what they initially bought him for – to re-sign him in 2014.
Matic would later join Man Utd, in 2017 – where he still plays to this day.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard claims he’s held to higher standard than other big six chiefs as he’s English More

IN football, it is normal for fans to offer criticism to players and managers – it’s all part of the game whatever level you are involved with.
It is a fan’s right to voice their opinions on any matter involving the club they spend their hard-earned money and time supporting.

Fans calling for Frank Lampard’s head is just ludicrousCredit: Reuters

No player or manager should be immune to criticism and every one of them should be judged in the same way, regardless of whether they are a club legend or not.
Frank Lampard has had an inconsistent start to his career as Chelsea manager, that much is undeniable.
His biggest problem has been the defence and how easily they leak goals, so right now Lampard is working on finding that balance.
You can rightly criticise some of his tactics and his in-game management, as that has been questionable at times.

Whether it is switching formations too often and not building a consistent starting XI or making the wrong substitutions too late in the game, there are a number of things fans are rightly questioning.
Lampard doesn’t seem to know his best formation or how to use his shiny new signings yet, but this can be quite normal when you add SEVEN new players to your starting XI from last season.
It is important Lampard gets it right, but it must not be rushed.
He has some world-class talent at his disposal and he needs to get them playing their best football as soon as possible.

But this cannot be at the expense of the defence, or the attack.
If you are calling for Lampard to be sacked already, or are giving up on him now, then I must question your lack of patience.
All of Chelsea’s top-class new signings have stated that Lampard is partly the reason they joined this club.
They have a firm belief in him, so why shouldn’t we?
He clearly needs some help coaching and organising the defensive side of his management, and all the top managers have a top group of coaches to help with this.
Lampard knew this, which is why he bought in highly regarded coach Anthony Barry, and why he got Petr Cech more hands on in training.
You have seen the signs of improving defensive stability already this season.
Chelsea have kept three clean sheets out of their last four matches; this is a huge step forward.

Dropping Hudson-Odoi for Mount was an odd decision from LampardCredit: EPA
Lampard is a highly-intelligent man, he knows that he must win games now and to do this he needs to get that balance between the defence and the attack.
I too have disagreed with many of Lampard’s decisions, and I will continue to voice my concerns.
I believe he should have kept playing Callum Hudson-Odoi on the wing after his run of good form, rather than selecting central midfielder Mason Mount out wide instead.
And I also question his treatment of Fikayo Tomori, who has disappeared from the squad once again.
But for me to lose patience and give up on Lampard right now would just be ludicrous.
He is on the brink of building something special at this club, and I firmly believe the results will soon come.
If they don’t, then yes, the pressure will rightly ramp up on Lampard, because this is a results-based business and victories earn profits.

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CHELSEA take on Krasnodar on Wednesday evening in the second match of their Champions League campaign.
And Frank Lampard has a selection conundrum on his hands.

How Chelsea could line-up for their game vs Krasnodar

Having only managed a draw at home to Sevilla in the opener, the Blues will desperately want a win in Russia.
However, with a congested fixture schedule and a nightmare journey to Russia and back, Lampard could opt to rotate his stars.
Should Lampard pick his strongest XI, he only has Kepa Arrizabalaga (injury) and Marcos Alonso (suspension) missing from his potential starters.
That means Edouard Mendy, almost certainly now his first choice anyway, will likely start ahead of Willy Caballero.

In defence, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma and Ben Chilwell comprise Lampard’s strongest back-four.
Jorginho and N’Golo Kante would likely continue their midfield pivot in the 4-2-3-1 system.
Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner would complete the team in a dangerous-looking front-four.
However, Chelsea could opt to play the 3-4-3 / 5-2-3 formation they rolled out for the 0-0 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.

Another way Lampard could send out his team vs Krasnodar

In that scenario, Silva would likely be joined by Cesar Azpilicueta and one of Zouma, Andreas Christensen or forgotten-man Fikayo Tomori.
In midfield Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic could push Kante or Jorginho for a start with plenty of defensive cover behind them.
Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Olivier Giroud will also be battling it out for a spot in the team in a new-look attack.
Chelsea take on Krasnodar on Wednesday October 28, with kick-off at 5.55pm.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy reveals he nearly quit football while on dole and living with pregnant girlfriend More

CHELSEA travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Saturday desperate to get back on track.
The Blues slipped to a frustrating draw against Sevilla midweek – with Frank Lampard likely to be buoyed by the rare clean sheet.

How Chelsea could line-up for their game at Man Utd

Last week, his side let-in three goals in the 3-3 draw with Southampton.
But, in a major boost, Edouard Mendy is fit to return, meaning £71.6million stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga has likely played his last game for Chelsea.
Thiago Silva played against Sevilla and will likely keep his place in the heart of defence against Man Utd.
The Brazilian could even go head-to-head with former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Edinson Cavani – with the latter tipped to replace suspended Anthony Martial.

Silva will likely be joined in the heart of defence by Kurt Zouma – with Reece James and Ben Chilwell completing the flat-back-four.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen will be hoping to play having missed out midweek.
Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are near-certainties to continue in the two deep midfield roles.
Kai Havertz will continue in front of them, in the roaming No10 position.

Another way Lampard could send out his troops at Old Trafford

Timo Werner is set to continue leading the line as he looks to add to his Premier League tally after getting off the mark against Saints.
Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are likely to start on the bench.
It’s in the wide areas where Lampard will have a decision or two to make.
Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic have started in those roles of late.
But with Hakim Ziyech seemingly fully-fit and desperate for his first start, one of those two could be sacrificed.
Ziyech would likely start on the right, with Pulisic on the left – meaning Lampard could leave his star pupil out of the XI.

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