Chelsea: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi show they should play
Nearly every time Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi touch the pitch for Chelsea they make something happen. Why do they not play more often?
Truth be told no one really knows why the Chelsea starlets are not playing regularly.
Most would agree that both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are better than the competition above them, but Maurizio Sarri does not seem to think so. Both Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek have the potential to be the future of Chelsea if given time to play.
So, why are neither of them getting the playing time they need and deserve?
In the case of Loftus-Cheek, his problems seem to lie with injuries and Sarri feeling as if he needs to play Ross Barkley or Mateo Kovacic. Barkley and Kovacic are the same type of player and neither adds much to the game when they are subbed in.
Sarri has fallen into a terrible habit of substituting Barkley for Kovacic or vice-versa over and over again. Oddly, it is nearly the same time every game. Kovacic and Barkley offer almost nothing to the Chelsea attack and are mainly possession-type players.
Loftus-Cheek is who Chelsea needs in midfield. He is great in possession, is quick, attacks, defends and actually provides a consistent goal-threat that Barkley and Kovacic do not.
Loftus-Cheek has struggled with lingering back problems this season and it seems to have prevented him from being 100 percent fit. In the short cameos he makes for the Blues recently he has looked great and his back seems to not be bothering him in the slightest.
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Against Dynamo Kyiv, Loftus-Cheek came onto the pitch after 61 minutes and his impact was immediately felt. His speed, intent to attack and persistence to break through the Dynamo Kiev defense was refreshing to see. The initial starting midfield line-up (Kovacic, Barkley and Jorginho) was awfully defensive for a game that Chelsea needed a few goals in.
Once Loftus-Cheek was on, he spearheaded the Chelsea attack. He was the player fouled at the edge of the box, which led to Willian scoring a wonderful free kick to make it 2-0.
Toward the end of the matc,h just as Chelsea was starting to look as if they would concede, Loftus-Cheek took down a brilliant pass from Pedro and squared it to fellow youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi who slotted it home.
Loftus-Cheek nearly single handedly put the game, and effectively the tie, away for Chelsea.
As for Hudson-Odoi, his situation is one that is much more complicated. Sarri has come out and said multiple times that he feels the pressure to play Hudson-Odoi more often is from the fans and from the clubs pursuing him (Bayern Munich) and not from within Chelsea.
Hudson-Odoi is the brightest talent to come from the Chelsea youth academy in years and it seems that because of his age he is not playing. Sarri has referenced Hudson-Odoi’s young age multiple times, citing that not many kids his age are playing at the top level for big clubs like Chelsea.
Has Sarri heard of Vinicius Junior? Jadon Sancho? Leon Bailey? All players nearly the same age as Hudson-Odoi that are all playing week in and week out for their respective clubs. It makes sense that he requested a transfer in January because anyone would.
Chelsea promised Hudson-Odoi more playing time and he has really yet to receive it. Sarri has played him the bare minimum, but Hudson-Odoi has made the most of it.
In seven Europa League appearances (nearly all substitutions) Hudson-Odoi has scored three goals. Each goal was huge as each put the game away late on and ensured the three points for the Blues.
It seems no matter how well Hudson-Odoi plays for Chelsea, Sarri has simply decided that he will not play regularly until he is older. It is clear to everyone other than Sarri that Hudson-Odoi is more than good enough, but Sarri seems to be waiting for him to reach the age of 22 or 23. At this rate, Sarri will not be at Chelsea by the time Hudson-Odoi is 22.
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At the end of the day, the kids need playing time. The only way for them to improve and become the stars they are bound to be is by playing more for Chelsea. Either Sarri needs to change his ways and play the young, talented and very capable youth or he needs to be sacked. Simple as.