Gianfranco Zola has said that Chelsea’s youth players should not be scared by the arrival of new signings this summer.

The Blue’s younger players were crucial in getting the club Champions League football this season.

However, Chelsea have already spent big in the transfer market with the likes of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech joining the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.

As well as this, it looks as though Frank Lampard’s side are close to securing the signature of the young German star Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen.

It is clear to see that the squad is adding depth, but Zola believes that the likes of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount should not be nervous about the new arrivals.

  • 'He was so influential'

In an interview with The Daily Mail, he said: “I would have not been the player I was if I didn't train with Diego Maradona.”

The Italian wizard joined Napoli in 1989 where he would learn from the footballing legend himself.

Zola said: "He was so influential on every aspect of my game.

“I promise you, I would have been another Gianfranco Zola if I hadn't trained and played with Maradona every day."

  • Learning from the best

Abraham has been Chelsea’s top scorer so far this season with 17 goals in all competitions, and he will now be competing for a first team spot with Werner, who scored a whopping 34 goals in 45 games for RB Leipzig this campaign.

Despite the worries Abraham may have, Zola added: “I don't think John Terry would have been the player he was if he hadn't had Marcel Desailly or Frank Leboeuf in front of him with us at Chelsea.”

It is clear to see Zola believes that Chelsea’s young talents should take the opportunity to learn from the club’s new additions to improve their own game.

The Blues are in a very exciting phase at the moment, with Champions League football already secured and the prospect of adding another FA Cup trophy to the club’s list of accolades.

The new signings at the club will bring extra depth and quality to what is already a talented side.

It is time for the youngsters to listen to Zola and see next season as a new exciting challenge for their careers.

 

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