THOMAS TUCHEL has warned Chelsea’s youngsters they face a ‘bumpy road’ making it to the first team.
And he adds the kids will also have to get used to loans if they want to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
Thomas Tuchel has warned Chelsea’s youngsters it’s a long road to the first teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Academy products including Mason Mount and Reece James are firm fixtures in Chelsea’s starting XI these days.
However, there are plenty of other youngsters at the club who have struggled for minutes this term.
Billy Gilmour came close to joining West Ham on loan in January after a lack of action.
And the likes of Tino Anjorin and Lewis Bate have also been made to watch from the sidelines this season.
New Blues boss Tuchel believes that the academy is the backbone of Chelsea and has stated he wants to bring through as many youngsters as predecessor Frank Lampard.
However, Chelsea expect instant success from managers and new big money signings will also continue to arrive.
As a result, Tuchel has now told academy stars that they will have to work hard to earn a place in the senior side.
And they must also accept that going out on loan, however many times, is another side of the development process that can give them a fighting chance at Stamford Bridge.
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Tuchel told Chelsea’s official website: “At my last clubs it was always like this, the door is always open in my office for the coaches and the officials from the academy.
“I love to watch training and to watch in-house games on the other pitches of the academy, although this is unfortunately not possible at the moment because we are in the bubble and have different zones.
“In my belief this is always the backbone of any club and the more guys you have that can arrive in the first team the better it is for the club, because it is something that the supporters love and these boys normally care absolutely about Chelsea, because they live that spirit over years and years.
“On the other hand they also choose the most difficult way. To make it at Chelsea, to make it at Paris, to make it at Dortmund, is one of the toughest challenges you can have.
“Sometimes the way is not only straight up, it’s sometimes bumpy, sometimes you go on loan, but I like that they accept the challenge to make it here.
“I feel from the boys here that they absolutely want to make it as Chelsea players. Not only Premier League players, but they want to be Chelsea players.
“This is the spirit that we want to feel. When we feel the spirit, in combination of course with the talent, we will push them.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
