Chelsea technical director defends club's use of the loan system

Chelsea has received plenty of criticism after it sent 33 players out on loan this season, most notably an accusation of "warehousing" players from Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor.

Related: Professional Footballers' Association condemn Chelsea's 'warehousing' of players

Victor Moses, Juan Cuadrado, and Mohamed Salah - signed for a combined total of almost £45 million - are among those who have left the club on temporary deals this summer.

Chelsea has now hit back at the naysayers, with technical director Michael Emenalo tipping other clubs to follow the Blues' lead.

"The loan programme is one that I can predict confidently that others will follow suit and start doing the same," he told the club website.

He says one reason that Chelsea looks to send players on loan spells across Europe is because the difference in standard between its youth teams and first team is so large.

"There is a gap in the players who have come through and been developed by the academy up to the age of 18 and 19, who now needs to step up into the first team. But we are not talking about any first team - this is Chelsea Football Club's first team, which means you are going to have to win games to win titles."

Emenalo believes it is asking too much of teenage footballers to come into the Chelsea side where "there is no room for errors."

Without B teams or under-21 sides playing in competitive leagues in England, the only alternative was sending youngsters to various divisions around Europe.

"Now you can look around and you can see where those 30 players are going. We have young 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds going to important leagues in the world to play first-team football. I think it is a very good thing for the club."

It can be lucrative business, too. Thorgan Hazard, younger brother of Eden, made the club a €7.5-million profit this summer after three consecutive seasons out on loan and no competitive appearances for Chelsea.

Treating player development as a profit-making venture is what troubles some, although Emenalo is adamant that the club's use of the loan system isn't simply business.

"We don't just send them away to try and make money. We send them away so they can develop and become better players, and hopefully come back and play for our first team."