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Chelsea: Antonio Conte’s Michy Batshuayi request is simply unreasonable

By Ajitesh Rasgotra

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea is challenged by Lucas Hernandez of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Chelsea FC and Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge on December 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea is challenged by Lucas Hernandez of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Chelsea FC and Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge on December 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Antonio Conte has told Michy Batshuayi that he needs to prove he is better than Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata to get more starts for Chelsea.

Michy Batshuayi’s Chelsea career has been an odd one to say the least. The Belgian arrived in West London for a hefty fee, but he has barely been given a chance to strut his stuff. Speaking ahead of the Blues’ Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth, Antonio Conte has asked the forward to show he is better than both Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard.

"Every game I’ve played Hazard, Pedro and Willian together, they’ve won. Last season and this season. He has to show me that he’s better than Morata, or than Hazard. It’s very simple. – Evening Standard"

That is simply unreasonable.

There is no debate that Hazard is Chelsea’s best player. Morata, meanwhile, is the club’s marquee summer signing. At the age of 25, he is supposed to be one the Premier League’s leading strikers, hitting his prime.

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Batshuayi is a younger player. In terms of both age and exposure. The Belgian was bought for his potential, but has not been given a chance to fulfill it. How is he supposed to show that he is better than his colleagues without opportunities to develop his game?

These comments from Conte represent the part of the Italian that has frustrated Chelsea fans. Despite last season’s successes, he was not one to rotate the team. This term, he has learnt to rest some players while still setting up the team to win.

However, his plans still do not include Batshuayi. The Belgian is sometimes given a limited a cameo role off the bench, but he never starts. Batshuayi is far behind Morata in terms of his development and he requires time on the field to bring his game up to speed.

If Conte is only going to play the forward once he is the finished product, Batshuayi is simply never going to play. Chelsea may as well sell the Belgian in January.

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Batshuayi is being given a cup start against Bournemouth. However, he will know that his Premier League role will only increase if he scores 15 goals and fixes global warming under the lights on Tuesday night. How demotivating must that be?

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