Conte vows to give youth a chance at Chelsea

Antonio Conte has queried why so few of Chelsea’s rising stars have appeared in the first team under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink.

The Blues boss, who helped to turn Paul Pogba into a superstar at Juventus , is currently on tour in America with Chelsea’s senior squad.

Conte revealed the club’s youngsters are set to get more of a run-out next season after several seasons dominating at junior level. Continue

He said: “There are many players with a good prospect for Chelsea. I don’t know why in the past a few players have played with the first team.”

Right-back Ola Aina and midfielder Ruben Loftus Cheek, both of whom penned new deals this year, are in his plans as is England Under-19 goalscorer Izzy Brown.

Despite Mourinho’s claims to the contrary, there were few opportunities for the teenagers under Mourinho last season with Hiddink also unwilling to give them game time.

But Conte maintained he is fully prepared to accede to the club’s request to play the kids.

He told ESPN FC: “It’s important. Because Chelsea has a fantastic academy. “I think that the academy is a great source for the manager of the first team.

"It’s important, also, that the young players must show to play in the first team.

“But I love to play with the young players and to improve them. It’s important to have good quality to improve and to show that a young player can play with the first team.

“I haven’t any problem with the choice to take a young player in the starting 11.

“For example, [Paul] Pogba. Pogba arrived at Juventus and he was only 18 years old and after three months he played in the starting 11.”

                                           Source: Mirror