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Chelsea currently have 32 of their players out on loan, and the majority of the list consists of youngsters.

Over the years, the Blues have seen a handful of their academy graduates climb to the senior team and retain their place in the first team squad.

The English side have been subject to criticism at times for their policy on loaning out so many of their younger players.

Petr Čech, the technical and performance advisor of the Premier League club has given an interview to L’Equipe, and the 38-year-old was asked if their strategy is ‘profitable’.

The Chelsea advisor explained why the club send their younger players out on loan.

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“You have to understand that Chelsea Academy produces a lot of good players, but for them the step to the first team is too high,” he said.

“Particularly because in England, unlike Spain for example, the big clubs cannot have a reserve team playing at a professional level. 

“So the only solution is to send our young players to the Championship or abroad. And, whatever you think, this system works. As evidenced by the presence today of Mason (Mount), Fikayo (Tomori) or Tammy (Abraham) in Frank’s group.”

Čech, who retired from playing football in 2019, has been included in Chelsea’s Premier League and Champions League squad this season. 

When talking about his role off the pitch, he said: “My mission is to help the different sectors of the club to work better together, whether it is the first team, the Academy, the recruiters, the department which manages the players on loan…

“Regularly, I propose to Frank [Lampard] or to Marina [Granovskaia], ideas for improving our overall functioning. After that, they are free to follow, or not, my recommendations.”