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Jose Mourinho feels that parents along with agents are the ones who stunt the progress of promising young talents. The Chelsea manager who led his team to the Premier League title this year could hand first team starts to Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Isaiah Brown against West Bromwich Albion.
Mourinho feels that young players these days are being fast-tracked before they are ready. “Without naming names, I could write a book. In modern football, it is because of the agents and the parents -- when the players are almost there, and in the process of being almost there, they think they are already there,” he said reflecting on how youngsters are managed these days.
He further added, “They make the players think they have arrived when they haven't. They think about money before the career starts, and everything gets very, very confused.”
The last player to graduate from the Chelsea academy was captain John Terry, but since then, no other player has been an integral part of the first team set-up. This could change with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek being handed starts. The 19-year-old striker got the opportunity to play against Liverpool and could play a part in the rest of the games for the Champions.
“Imagine Ruben's family or agent pushing the kid to go -- The kid has to go on loan. Imagine that picture. That's not what he needs. At this moment, he needs stability,” the Portuguese manager said.
"They need that kind of stability unless they play in very small clubs when, at 17 or 18, they go directly in the first-team. But to be in a big team and reach the level to be playing regularly for the first-team, you need time and stability. We try to give that to our boys," he added.
Ruben the best trophy: Mourinho
Chelsea’s under-21 team won the Uefa Youth League title and the FA Youth Cup, making it a successful season for the youngsters. The manager, however, believes that a bigger inspiration for the academy players is the progress of Loftus-Cheek this season.
“This year, the most important title for the academy was Ruben, not the UEFA Youth League or the FA Youth Cup. It was Ruben: the best trophy. I’m excited, but I keep emotional control. If I don’t, I’d lose the players or help them go the wrong way but, yes, I am excited – but with stability. At this minute, that’s what they need,” the coach said.
The manager has confirmed that Loftus-Cheek will not be going on loan away from Stamford Bridge, and said that instead, he will be part of the squad which will look to defend their League title next season.
