ANTONIO CONTE is ready to fire up Chelsea’s production line — in the hope of finally churning out another first-team player.
The Blues’ youth system has failed to create a genuine star since club legend John Terry made his debut in the League Cup in 1998. Nathan Ake, Nathaniel Chalobah, Patrick Bamford and Ryan Bertrand have all been shown the door despite rising through the Chelsea ranks.
Boss Conte is determined to buck that trend, despite having a whopping 33 players out on loan, and will give some of his kids a chance in the Carabao Cup third round against Nottingham Forest tonight.
Italian Conte said: “If you ask to play regularly with a great club then you also must deserve to play.
“If you are good enough to play with a great team, you play. Every coach wants to win. I don’t care if a player is young or old.
“Don’t forget my first appearance in Serie A came when I was 16. I’m the first person to trust in young players, to give possibilities to them — if they deserve the chance.”
Conte looks set to start midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Charly Musonda, while Kenedy will be recalled for the first time since being sent home from the club’s pre-season tour of China and Singapore after posting offensive remarks on social media. Star winger Eden Hazard is also due to start as he builds up his fitness after breaking an ankle in June.
And Conte singled out Ampadu, 17, as one to watch. He is the son of former Swansea player Kwame and was signed from League Two Exeter this summer.
Conte said: “Ampadu has prospects to become a Chelsea player. He’s strong physically, plus has good technique and personality. “We have to continue to work with him and try to improve him, to bring him to the next step.
“I think the next game could be a good opportunity for us to give chances to some players who in the last period did not play a lot.
“It could be good for Charly and also for Kenedy. With Charly, you can see very clearly his talent. “Now it’s also important he’s working very well, trying to adapt himself to this league — because this league is not simple.
“He could play as a No 10, he could be a winger. Also, in the future, he could play as a wing-back.
“With Kenedy, he knows very well what happened in China. For sure he made a mistake. But everyone in their life can make a mistake.
“Now he’s focused, he’s working very well. He’s ready to play and to show he deserves a space in our future.”
From The Sun
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