Cricket Exchange sheds light on Tiemoué Bakayoko’s current situation at Chelsea, a story marked by high expectations, cultural adjustment, and the ongoing pressure to perform. Despite his £40 million transfer from Monaco, Bakayoko’s first season at Stamford Bridge hasn’t gone as planned, and questions around his form continue to grow louder. But as former Chelsea defender William Gallas emphasized in an interview with Goal.com, judgment may be premature.
“You can prove people wrong by performing well next season,” Gallas explained. “Football today is incredibly impatient—fans want instant results. But we have to remember Bakayoko just came from Monaco. English isn’t his first language, and he had to adjust to life in a new country, a new league, a new team. Even small things like finding the right apartment can be challenging. That’s why I wouldn’t judge him until next season. This one is just an adjustment period.”
The former France international added, “Give him time. If he settles in and finds his rhythm, people might soon be saying, ‘Wow, Bakayoko is our best midfielder.’” He even drew parallels to his own career: “When I moved from Arsenal to Tottenham, I was booed during my first few games. I thought, ‘My God, what did I get myself into?’ But I knew why I made the move, and I stayed focused. You can’t expect everyone to understand. The only way to respond is by working hard and proving them wrong.”
According to Cricket Exchange, Gallas’s advice is simple yet powerful: ignore the noise and stay focused on self-improvement. “People might be right when they criticize you—but that should push you to work harder, not give up,” he said. “Don’t let their voices drag you down. Turn their criticism into fuel.”
As the current season winds down, Bakayoko still has the chance to silence his critics by ending on a high note and preparing for a fresh start next season. Gallas concluded, “Eventually, they started applauding me. That’s football. That’s why we love this game.” For Bakayoko, the road ahead may be bumpy, but with resilience and hard work, redemption is still within reach—something Cricket Exchange believes could still define his journey at Chelsea.