Antonio Conte’s choice: Chelsea coach picking youth for all the right reasons
By George Perry
Antonio Conte named five youth players who will be in Chelsea’s squad for the FA Cup tie against Hull City. Two are almost certain to play a large role, and at least two more could feature even if only for a run-out.
Antonio Conte strongly hinted at a very young squad for to face Hull City in the FA Cup. The FA Cup is Chelsea’s best chance for silverware this season and therefore remains a high priority. But Conte’s balancing act is quite simple: the runaway La Liga champions and perennial continental superpower Barcelona on Tuesday vs. the 21st place Championship side Hull City on Friday.
Even with the Champions League in mind, though, Conte’s decision to play the youth is neither a default nor foregone. Conte has shown little hesitation to grind out performances from his best players this season. Marcos Alonso had little hope of a rest until Davide Zappacosta relieved him for the last two games. Because football is a cruel mistress, Alonso then picked up an injury in training. Cesar Azpilicueta is likewise on the “if fit then play” program.
Last season at this stage of the competition Antonio Conte played a full strength lineup against the mid-table Championship Wolves. Diego Costa started over Michy Batshuayi, flanked by Eden Hazard and Willian. Conte rotated the defence and goalkeeper, but three of the four midfield line were Premier League regulars.
However, this season’s FA Cup is more important than last season’s. Last year, the Blues did not have the Champions League as an ambition nor a source of fixture congestion last season. At this point last season, they were already the prohibitive Premier League favourites. Conte could have rotated his squad to ensure he did not jeopardize Chelsea’s run-in to the title.
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The Premier League was theirs to lose. The FA Cup was just a pleasant addition for thoughts of a domestic double. This time around, if finishing the season with at least one piece of silverware is the standard, the FA Cup is more important than the Champions League simply because of the probabilities involved.
This points to Antonio Conte choosing to play the youth for all the right reasons. He cannot afford to be flippant with the FA Cup. He is not facing any major injury crises across the pitch or in any position. Conte is truly choosing to play the youth, as he has all season.
The skipper implied Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi will play key roles, and may start against Hull. Dujon Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah and Kyle Scott will be in the squad. An appearance for the latter two would be a first team debut.
Chalobah or Scott will likely be the second and third substitutes, perhaps seeing little more than a run-out in stoppage time. If the Blues have a commanding lead midway through the second half, he could use all three substitutes on the youngsters to keep his best XI rested and safe for Tuesday. And whoever Conte chooses to start, he will have experienced players on the bench ready to come on if necessary to ensure the result.
Antonio Conte speaks of “the step” and how he only turns to players who deserve it, not because they are on either end of the age scale. His youth selections so far this season have paid off. Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi and Sterling demonstrated their readiness for more senior minutes. Just as importantly, they return to the Development squad and play there with no ego – only a desire to win for the club at any level.
If Conte names a young squad to face Hull it is not a sign of him pooh-poohing the FA Cup, handing out minutes like alms to the poor nor making a petulant protest like Pep Guardiola. He would do it because those are the best players to allow him both to win today and to win on Tuesday.
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