Harry Diamond
Young English players are put under ‘too much pressure’ by the country’s media, that’s according to Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Italian has been criticised for failing to provide regular opportunities to young stars such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the latter having requested a move away from the club in January amidst interest from Bayern Munich.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Europa League Round of 16 clash with Dynamo Kiev, Sarri insists his young players must still improve, criticising the media for putting ‘too much pressure’ on young English talent.
‘Hudson-Odoi is always in my mind in every match,’ Sarri told a pre-match press conference.
‘I don’t know if tomorrow he will be on the pitch or not but also the media have to put less pressure on the young English players, because they need to improve.
‘I have never seen a player of 18 at the top, so Callum, as with all the other young players in England, needs to improve. That is important and then he will be able to be at the top when he is 22, 23. [He needs to be] without pressure at the moment, I think the media put too much pressures on the young English players.’