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Mauricio Pochettino promised to maintain a pathway for academy players to the Chelsea first team if they demonstrate their abilities.
The coach has provided opportunities to six players under the age of 20 this season. One of these players, defender Levi Colwill, has become an England national team member after appearing in nearly all of Pochettino’s matches as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Alex Matos, the 19-year-old striker who joined from Norwich in the summer, did not play during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United. He had previously made his Premier League debut in October against Fulham.
Chelsea has also recognized the accomplishments of Bashir Humphreys, a 20-year-old academy graduate, Deivid Washington, a Brazilian striker who is 18 years old, Diego Moreira, a 19-year-old defender, and Mason Burstow, a 20-year-old forward who was signed from Charlton in 2022.
Despite spending over £1billion in the last 18 months to bring in new players, Pochettino’s options have been limited due to a lengthy list of injuries. This has put the depth of the first-team squad to the test.
The manager specifically praised Matos and stressed the importance of retaining young players at the club, assuring them that their opportunities to join the senior team will not be hindered by veteran signings.
Pochettino praised Matos for his strong focus and character, noting that he is not only talented but also impresses with his intelligence and positive attitude.
“It is challenging to compete against experienced first-team players. However, this individual possesses a strong sense of competitiveness and physical strength. They are not afraid to push themselves and even show a friendly smile while doing so.”
“I am grateful to have this kind of profile. I am pleased with it. The academy has a wealth of talent across all its teams.”
“After a period of four to five months, we have now had the opportunity to evaluate all of them. I believe we have a number of young and talented players who, given time and opportunity, can reach the level of Chelsea.”
The team managed by Pochettino will welcome Newcastle for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, as they aim to secure their first trophy since their victory in the 2021 Champions League under previous manager Thomas Tuchel.
The manager, who has yet to achieve a victory in a major tournament in England, lost the final of this competition to Chelsea in 2015 while he was coaching Tottenham. He stressed the significance of the upcoming game and hinted that there will not be significant alterations to the team that won against the Blades.
Despite this, the development of young players remains a crucial aspect of his approach as he works towards rebuilding the team in west London.
“He expressed the need to enhance the development of recently acquired young players, such as Romeo Lavia and Deivid Washington,” he stated. “Additionally, we prioritize nurturing the talent within our academy. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our academy staff.”
We have the skill, but we must also build the capability. It’s important for them to have confidence that they can make it to the top team. It’s not just about bringing in young players, but also giving academy players a chance if they have earned it.
Source: independent.co.uk
