Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has insisted that Chelsea will not do well in the Champions League and other major competitions this season with the current young squad.
He said the Blues must add some experienced players to Enzo Maresca’s team and, if possible, sign Liverpool target Marc Guehi to help them compete with top sides in Europe.
He made the observation after the Blues’ 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Chelsea were already 2-0 down in the first half of the game with an own goal from Trevoh Chalobah and Harry Kane’s penalty.
Cole Palmer netted what only turned out to be a consolation goal as Kane put the game beyond their reach with an excellent finish at the Allianz Arena.
Guehi, a product of Chelsea’s academy, made a move to leave Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, but the deal to Liverpool did not materialise.
The England midfielder will be a free agent in the summer of 2026 when his contract with Crystal Palace runs out.
And Hargreaves wants the Blues to sign the England international to help their defence.
The former England international noted that when Chelsea were winning trophies and competing with big teams in Europe, they had experienced players such as goalkeeper Petr Cech and defenders Carvalho, John Terry and so on.
“That’s the basis of any team,” Hargreaves told TNT Sports.
“I think the midfield three is almost as good as anyone – Enzo [Fernandez], [Moises] Caicedo and Cole Palmer – but I still think they’ll probably address that in the coming windows.
“I think there’s a nucleus there that’s going to be really special for Chelsea, and today just highlighted that.
“It’s not a criticism; it’s just a fact, and I thought the two young centre-backs did okay, but we’re talking about [Luis] Diaz, [Michael] Olise and Kane, some of the top performers. It was a big ask for them, but mistakes cost them more than anything.
“Marc Guehi… I know he was a Chelsea academy boy, but somebody like that, super reliable, you can just pop him in and mentor the young boys.
“I think having these young guys is amazing, but having a mentor – we all had them as young kids coming through – I think they probably need that Thiago Silva type, maybe a bit younger, just to help these young guys in a game like this, away from home in Munich where it’s very challenging.”
Chelsea’s next game is a Premier League clash with Manchester United at the weekend.
