Dropped starter names the unique record that is Chelsea’s “ambition” this season | OneFootball

Axel Disasi arrived at Chelsea late last summer as something of an afterthought, seemingly brought in once it was confirmed that Wesley Fofana’s injury was very serious.

But in the end the Frenchman became an important part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team, starting in the Premier League on the opening weekend and not looking back. He ended the season with 29 league starts under his belt.

This season, the return of Fofana and the addition of further competition has made things more difficult, and with 8 games played Disasi has just one league start to his name so far.

He’s still an important part of our B team though, playing at centre back or right back as the situation demands. Speaking to the Chelsea website this week, the former Monaco man explained a little more about he and the team’s ambitions in Europe.

The UEFA Europa Conference League trophy.

Disasi on Chelsea’s European ambitions

“Chelsea is renowned for going all the way in European competitions. Also, we know that if we win it, we would be the first ever club to win the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. That obviously drives us, and it’s clearly our ambition,” Disasi explained.

He added that Chelsea “haven’t properly discussed or set any objectives,” but made it clear that everyone at the club knew it was “about going all the way.”

Disasi and plenty of the others in that cup side know it’s their best chance of earning a shot in the first team, or just of playing minutes at all.

A really interesting dilemma will come later on in the season, if we make the knockout stages of the Conference League. How much will Enzo Maresca want to reward the players who get the team through these early stages, and how much will he prioritise winning the trophy?