Gareth Southgate’s philosophy for the Three Lions bodes well for Chelsea youth

Gary Cahill is the only Chelsea player in Gareth Southgate’s first England squad. Southgate’s approach to the national team mirrors Antonio Conte’s at Chelsea – a positive sign for Chelsea’s English youth.

Antonio Conte quickly purged Chelsea of the notion that any player was “untouchable” in the squad. Every Blue started pre-season under Conte with a fresh slate. As a result, Nathaniel Chalobah and Victor Moses earned their way into the squad, with Moses becoming first a regular and then a star wing-back.

Gareth Southgate is introducing a similar approach to England’s national team. The previously undroppable Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott will watch England’s matches from home in the upcoming international break.

Southgate favoured neither youth nor experience in his squad. He chose the best players for his team based on recent form and their ability to achieve his goals (and John Stones, for reasons). As a result, veterans like Jermaine Defoe and Chelsea’s Gary Cahill will play alongside Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli.

"Whatever we think we are as a nation, we’ve not been delivering. I think there’s a harsh lens needed on some of the things we are doing. We need to look at who the top teams are and how we get to their level. – Telegraph"

Chelsea’s youth players hear a similar message and have a similar competitive system ahead of them on their way to the first team. The “prove yourself” mentality they develop at Cobham will set them up for success as they hope to make their first senior national teams.

Nathaniel Chalobah has more youth caps for England than any other player in history. After breaking into Chelsea’s senior first team after a stellar youth career and a series of loans, he will be keen to repeat that feat for the Three Lions.

Chalobah will first need to earn more substantial playing time to show Southgate that he belongs in an upcoming England squad. Earning a place in Chelsea’s squad and collecting a smattering of minutes were only the first stages in his progression. Now he must become a Chelsea regular en route to becoming an England regular.

Chelsea’s youth have the advantage that the philosophies of club and country are so similar. The “Academy generation” and the associated mentality have taken a good share of the blame for England’s recent performances. Southgate and Conte are both determined to eliminate that sense of entitlement among their charges.

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The Blues have long had some of the best Academy teams in England, and many of their “golden generation” are on the verge of breaking through at the senior level. Antonio Conte and Gareth Southgate will hopefully both look to Cobham to fill out their future squads.