Glenn Hoddle tells Chelsea to sign Man City star to help fix ‘disillusioned’ dressing room

Glenn Hoddle has implored Chelsea to sign ‘a couple of really experienced players’ in the summer transfer window, naming John Stones as the perfect ‘character’ to come in and help a ‘disillusioned’ squad.

Managerless Chelsea find themselves languishing down in ninth and in a state of disarray after a wretched Premier League campaign, which has cost them a place in next year’s Champions League.

A shock victory over Manchester City in this weekend’s FA Cup final would give fans something to cheer about at the end of what has been a gruelling season – but any celebrations may be short-lived if questions over the ownership remain unanswered.

Both Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella have gone public with their frustrations about key decisions being made at the top, with the latter pointing to a distinct lack of experience inside the Chelsea dressing room.

BlueCo’s much-maligned transfer model means Chelsea now have the youngest squad in the entire Premier League – and there are calls for this to be addressed once a deal for Liam Rosenior’s permanent successor has been wrapped up.

Speaking exclusively to Metro last month, Joe Cole named the soon-to-be out-of-contract Stones as a wise old head who could come in and help set an example for the rest of the squad.

Former Chelsea and England manager Hoddle, giving his thoughts on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown, echoed Cole’s comments about the 31-year-old England defender, who will be available on a free transfer in a month’s time.

‘They need a couple of really experienced players that want to be there, but they’re good apples, they’re not bad apples,’ Hoddle said.

‘John Stones is going to move. He’s a certainty… I’d be going left, right and centre to get him.

‘He’s a good character, a good player still.’

Ex-England and City centre-back Joleon Lescott, sitting alongside Hoddle, was in full agreement, suggesting Stones would command the instant ‘respect’ of Chelsea’s squad were he to join.

‘I would sign him for Chelsea,’ Lescott explained.

‘He’s a top professional, top player, he’d have the respect of the group because of what he’s done, he’s achieved more than what they’ve achieved as a group.

‘Someone like that would be an easy sell.’

According to Hoddle, though, the make-up of the dressing room and the choice of manager will matter little if Chelsea’s ownership fail to change their methods.

‘It doesn’t matter who is manager,’ he said.

‘Thomas Tuchel should never, ever have walked out of that club. There was interference and that’s why he went into his staff and went, “Pack your bags, boys! We’re off”, because he was being told how to play.

‘Come on! He won the Champions League for them

Hoddle continued: ‘I think there is a disillusionment within the players at the people above, at the top.

‘Yes, Chelsea have changed so many managers over the years, they go through managers left, right and centre, but they bring in trophies all the time. Even last year they brought in two trophies.

‘If I was at Chelsea now I’d call for a meeting with everyone. The owners, the players and the management and the staff ought to talk and thrash this out because there’s only one way it’s going to go and that’s on a downward spiral.

‘I can’t see them having that sort of mentality at the moment, that spirit around the camp to have any chance of beating Manchester City.’

Chelsea – led by interim boss Calum McFarlane – enter this weekend’s FA Cup final as massive underdogs up against the might of Pep Guardiola, who is looking to lift the famous trophy for a third time.

And while Hoddle refused to completely rule out their chances, the former Chelsea boss admits it would be a ‘big shock’ if City were to come out second best at Wembley.

‘I think Chelsea have got to play at their very, very, vest best on the break,’ he said.

‘It would be a big shock [if Chelsea won], The gap is bigger than ever.

‘I think Manchester City will win.’

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