Stan Collymore's Bold Claim on Chelsea's Rising Star
Former Liverpool and England striker Stan Collymore has made a striking declaration, asserting that Chelsea's £40 million winger Alejandro Garnacho is "the best wide man performance I've seen in the flesh this season." This high praise comes after Chelsea's emphatic 4-1 victory away to Aston Villa on Wednesday night, a result that followed their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal just days earlier.
Chelsea's Dominant Display at Villa Park
Collymore, a lifelong Aston Villa supporter, described Chelsea's performance at Villa Park as the best team display he has witnessed "in quite a number of years" at the stadium. The match saw Joao Pedro score a hat-trick, with Cole Palmer also finding the net in a comprehensive win for Liam Rosenior's side. Collymore highlighted the tactical brilliance and technical quality of Chelsea's players, noting their ability to open up Aston Villa's defense at will.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Collymore elaborated on his observations, stating, "They opened up Aston Villa at will at times. Villa not playing very well, it has to be said, but they did start and they did take the lead. The way that Chelsea responded and the type of footballers they've got—excellent technicians, players who can go past people—was impressive."
Garnacho's Standout Performance and Chelsea's Title Prospects
Collymore specifically singled out Alejandro Garnacho's contribution down the left-hand side, labeling it as the standout winger performance of the season. He also praised other key players, including Malo Gusto overlapping Reece James on the right, the movement of Joao Pedro, and the calm presence of midfield enforcer Moises Caicedo.
Despite his admiration for Chelsea's display, Collymore remains cautious about their immediate title chances, predicting that Arsenal will win the Premier League this season. However, he believes Chelsea has the potential to mount a serious challenge in the coming years. "If Chelsea can keep everyone together and they can continuously forward momentum and get some crucial consistency, I think they could be an exceptional team moving forward," he said.
Comparisons to Champions League Winners and Long-Term Strategy
Collymore drew parallels between Chelsea's current squad and the PSG team that won the Champions League last year, suggesting they are the most similar Premier League side in terms of alignment and style. He acknowledged that Chelsea's scattergun approach to signing young talents was initially viewed as madness but praised their policy of acquiring the best young players globally.
"I genuinely think their purchasing of all of these players was scattergun and madness, but they had the money and the policy was very simple—let's buy the very best young players, in some cases on the planet," Collymore explained. He noted that while it might take time for such a team to gel, Chelsea's performance against Villa indicates they are on the right track.
Collymore emphasized the importance of consistency and development under a learning manager, but expressed optimism about Chelsea's future. With players like Cole Palmer in form and a cohesive playing style, he sees them as a "very, very persuasive title bet for the next couple of seasons."
