Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, addressed the Michy Batshuayi situation on Friday, explaining what the Belgian must do in order to play.
Since joining Chelsea in the summer, Michy Batshuayi has done relatively little. Antonio Conte has preferred alternative options, such as Eden Hazard playing as a false nine, instead of starting the Belgian when Diego Costa has been unavailable. He explained his attitude towards Batshuayi ahead of the West Ham game.
Rumours have recently suggested that Batshuayi may be in for a swift exit, but Conte stated that the striker needs to get his head down and impress before taking the field.
"It’s important, when you ask about my players, I like to repeat the most important thing is the present…Now he’s working very well for us, he must continue to work, then anything can happen.If he shows me he deserves to play he will be in the starting eleven, if he doesn’t he will continue this way [on the bench]. – via Metro"
Batshuayi’s status within the squad has puzzled Chelsea fans. The striker was bought for around £30 million in the summer, but he is yet to start a Premier League game. He has made 16 appearances in the league, but all have been from the bench and the bulk of them have been in the form of 10-minute cameos.
In times when Diego Costa was injured or suspended, Conte did not have enough faith in Batshuayi to start him. Instead, he picked Eden Hazard in the striking role and added another winger to the starting line-up.
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Blues fans have been itching to see more of the exciting 23-year-old, but Conte has simply not wanted to play him.
The situation has led the tabloids to speculate about Batshuayi’s future. Moreover, Conte’s comments do not make it seem too rosy either.
Evidently, Conte has not been impressed by Batshuayi’s work on the training field. Given how professional the Belgian has been about the whole situation, it is hard to believe that he has been slacking behind the scenes.
Nevertheless, whatever he has been doing has not met Conte’s expectations. Do you think that Batshuayi will eventually get up to speed? Or are the tabloids right in suggesting that a summer transfer is on the cards? Hit the comments section and let us know!