Chelsea legend, Gianfranco Zola has questioned the club’s decision to sell four of their players this year.
Zola, who expressed his surprise, believes Chelsea need the players this season because other footballers looked up to them.
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The four players are Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic.
Azpillicueta left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid, Jorginho and Havertz joined Arsenal, while Kovacic joined Premier League champions Manchester City.
“I am surprised so many experienced players left. My understanding is they are planning to build a team within the next three or four years but players left that were there a long time and that won a lot – Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Havertz, Kovacic — players that probably everyone looked up to,” Zola told The Times.
“You need those players. In difficult moments you rely on those players. So many left and that doesn’t help the situation.”