Ryan Bertrand: Chelsea and England’s future Left back?

Just over a week ago, 22 year old Ryan Bertrand made his first ever European appearance in the most elaborate way possible, in the champions league final. Bertrand lasted 74 minutes in the match, as he gave an assured performance, and he certainly wasn’t overawed by the occasion, as many feared. So where does the youngster go from here?

Loan deals

Bertrand left his first club Gillingham to go to Chelsea at age 16, for a small fee of £125,000. After an impressive first season in Chelsea’s youth team, Chelsea decided to loan Bertrand out to Bournemouth, Oldham and Norwich, in that order where his organization and position skills impressed the technical staff at each club.

After these successful loan spells, in summer 2009, Chelsea decided it was time to put Bertrand up a level to promotion chasing Reading. Chelsea’s choice proved to be an inspiring one with Bertrand being a regular starter, and in the meantime scored his first ever professional goal. His brilliant season was highlighted as he finished third in the voting for Reading’s player of the season. He spent the first half of the 2010/11 season at another highly respected club, Nottingham Forest, where he again impressed.

His time at Chelsea

When the left back returned to Chelsea in January 2011, he knew it was time to step up. His first appearance in the blues’ first team was in a 3-1 home win over Birmingham City in April. Despite only playing for the last thirty minutes, Bertrand got an assist and must have impressed the Chelsea hierarchy as in July 2011; Chelsea signed him to a four year contract, proving the blues have faith in his talent and feel that keeping him is imperative to their potential future success. His 2011/12 season saw him make 14 appearances and due to the sale of Yuri Zhirkov, he became Chelsea’s back-up to the magnificent Ashley Cole.

Now do I foresee Ryan Bertrand overstepping Ashley Cole anytime soon? No, Cole is simply too good. But with Cole turning 32 later this year, Chelsea will have to look for a younger replacement, and Bertrand is the perfect candidate. The Englishman’s reading of the game and his versatility (he can play left wing too) means Chelsea need not rush into the transfer market, as they have one already on the books, and he cost just over £125,000. 

Manchester United 2-0 Swansea

Manchester United ensured that the premier league title race would still go down to the final day after a comfortable 2-0 win over Swansea at Old Trafford.

The first half began with relative dominance from Manchester united with Valencia and Young receiving plenty of the ball. Unsurprisingly, United had the game's first meaningful chance when Michel Vorm denied first Evra, then Rooney.

The home side took the lead with 27 minutes played after some excellent work by Valencia on the right, who then pulled it back for Michael Carrick, whose shot was turned in by Paul Scholes from about two yards out.

United nearly doubled their lead one minute later with Valencia's low driven cross reaching Hernandez, however Manchester United's number fourteen was unable to get his shot away.

Five minutes before the half time whistle, Ashley Young made it two after sweeping strike into the left hand corner of the net. In fact, it could have been 3-0 at half time as Chris Smalling's glancing header went wide.

In the second half United created yet more chances. After a Swansea corner, Valencia passed to Rooney, whose pass was crucially intercepted by Nathan Dyer. If not for Dyer's intervention, Ashley Young would have had an open goal.

Swansea were not being pinned back in their own half for the entire match however. On the 59th minute, a Scott Sinclair shot deflected off Danny Graham's boot and nearly wrong-footed David De Gea. The swans proved they were not afraid of united and were willing to try and score.

With 20 minutes remaining, Wayne Rooney was put through by Michael Carrick but the England striker put it wide of the target. Despite continuing to dominate possession however, United didn’t create many chances in the last twenty minutes.

All in all, United really should have scored more than two, with Hernandez in particular missing a few decent opportunities. With more clinical finishing, perhaps United would be in pole position, but for now, they’ll need QPR to produce a major shock next Sunday at the Etihad, as well as themselves beating Sunderland at the Stadium of light. It’s unlikely but Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will not give the title up before it’s officially over.