You defend it but you have little to really show for it all, compared to what the youth teams have won. It's hardly something to be proud of, shipping players like cattle for profit. The issue is that there no ethos at Chelsea, players don't all make it with United but you feel there is a path for a career after. Not always for sure but there is something instilled. Always a cut throat mercenary feel to Chelsea, even how they treat there legends at the end of there career.
Lots of our current first team are youth products. A decent chunk of the England squad are from our academy. One of Bayern Munich's hottest young players is from our academy. Our academy is working as well as anyones in the past few years, even if you discount the youth trophies.
Players who didn't make it at Chelsea include in recent years include the likes of Declan Rice, Tariq Lamptey and Eddie Nketiah, they're doing pretty well!
I don't buy into Chelsea's model as being shady at all. We made mediocre players like Piazon millionaires, there's a reason he signed so many contract extensions. It's not that the loan model is something to be proud of but its also nothing to be ashamed off, all part of the modern game and it's allowed us to get another stream of income.