Antonio Conte Reveals Condition He Has To Play Young Players

Antonio Conte's has a team of superstars but he has still complained of a lack of strength in depth. Some people would rather see him play the club's youth players than sign more players. The manager will do that on one condition.

For the past four years Chelsea have won the FA Youth Cup, beating Manchester City in three of those finals, and they rightly have the reputation as having one of the best youth academies and scouting networks going.

However the problem has been getting those players into the team with the now departed John Terry the last man to hold down a regular first team place in the Chelsea senior ranks and that was about a decade and a half ago.

Loftus Cheek

_{Loftus-Cheek looked like he could be the next player to come through but he's found playing time hard to come by. Image: PA}

Whilst Ruben Loftus-Cheek is only out on loan and has a chance to one day break into the team players like Nathaniel Chalobah and Nathan Ake have had to move on for good in search of first team football.

When asked if he'd give youth a chance in his pre-match press conference, via the Mirror, the Chelsea manager revealed that he would but they'd have to be as talented as Wayne Rooney:

"Yes, for sure . Rooney showed his potential when he was 17 years old and not only did he keep his level, but he improved it. We're talking about an icon of football, in general.

"But it's not easy to have many Rooneys. It's rare. If the young players are ready and are strong enough to play regularly, they can play. I put Paul Pogba, at 18, into the team at Juventus, for Marchisio."

_{Rooney burst onto the scene as a teenager and was still a teenager when he moved to Manchester United and scored a hat-trick on his debut. Image: PA}

Conte went on to suggest that his experience makes him the perfect manager to pick youth but only if they deserve it adding, "Don't forget, too, for my first game in Serie A, I was only 16. So, I'm the first person open to do this because another coach did this with me.

"...Show me young players who deserve to play regularly for ­Chelsea, and I'm ready to pick them."

So to play for Chelsea you have to be as good as Rooney, Pogba or Conte- good luck kids!

Topics: Chelsea

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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