When asked what he feels Chelsea can achieve under new coach Antonio Conte next term, he said: “We must not go worse, right?”
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Antonio Conte has queried why so few of Chelsea ‘s rising stars have appeared in the first team under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink.
His predecessor Mourinho, who is now at Manchester United, has carried around a longstanding criticism of not being able to promote youth amid a wealth of high-profile signings – a point Conte subtly points out.
Inter Milan have also shown interest but Conte, who once tried to sign him from Fiorentina when he was Juventus boss, wants to keep the 28-year-old in London.
Juan Cuadrado had been speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against Liverpool, in which he made a second-half substitute appearance, about his determination to fight for his place at Chelsea. “In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this”, Conte told reporters.
‘It’s important. Because Chelsea has a fantastic academy.
“I think this season will be the most hard in history, because there are so many managers”, said the 27-year-old. It’s important for us to do well and make a good pre-season. They have an easy ride in the beginning of the new season, as they will play next against Watford, Burnley and Swansea City. It’s important to have good quality to improve and to show that a young player can play with the first team.
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“I haven’t any problem with the choice to take a young player in the starting 11”.
