'I've got to be careful' - Chelsea scout Olofinjana lifts lid on concerns shared with directors

Chelsea scout Seyi Olofinjana has shed light on the challenges facing the club this season, revealing that he had privately warned directors about potential struggles well before the campaign began.

The former Nigeria international, who is responsible for identifying and developing talent for the Blues, made the comments during an appearance on SuperSport's Monday Night Football, monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com.

Olofinjana began by stressing the sensitivity of his role and his loyalty to the club, admitting that speaking openly was not easy.

"I've got to be very careful what I say here, I work for Chelsea. But to be honest, this is what I discussed even with the directors in the football club," he explained.

According to the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, the warning signs were evident after last season’s demanding schedule, which left players with little recovery time.

He suggested that Chelsea’s preparations were compromised from the very start.

"Before any ball was kicked this season, I knew Chelsea would struggle given the season they had last year. When the season was finished, whether they won the Club World Cup was immaterial.

"When you play back-to-back and then you have only a week to come back into a new season, it happened with Colwill who has an ACL at the moment and will be out for a long time."

Olofinjana highlighted the absence of Levi Colwill as a particularly damaging blow to Enzo Maresca's squad.

The England defender, who has been ruled out long-term with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was central to Chelsea's defensive balance.

"He's a major part of what we did last year, talking about Chelsea, he's a good defender by all accounts, left-footed, gives us a good balance. He can play some killer passes, so he was central to everything we did,” he said.

Olofinjana went on to stress that the club’s transfer business, while promising in the long term, created short-term difficulties.

He pointed to the signing of Dutch teenager Jorrel Hato, noting that the youngster was expected to be eased into the team gradually but is now being thrust into action sooner than planned.

"Losing him, Jorrel Hato coming, they brought him as a potential understudy then begins to play probably in a year or so," he remarked.

Olofinjana also expressed concern about the creative void left by Cole Palmer’s absence.

Palmer, who was pivotal in unlocking defences last season, has been unavailable, forcing Chelsea to look elsewhere for inspiration.

"You lose Cole Palmer, so these are the three problems you are beginning to look at. Who unlocks the defence for João Pedro and Estêvão?" he concluded.

Wale Adejumo

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