We take a look at some of the major news doing the rounds about Chelsea Football Club today.
Antonio Conte Speaks about Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy
Prior to his side’s Premier League game against Sunderland, the Italian spoke about Brazilian winger Kenedy, who has officially returned after an unsuccessful stint at Watford, and fellow youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and what the future holds of them in January.
The Brazilian winger was one of the youngsters who impressed at Stamford Bridge in the previous campaign under both Guus hiddink as well as Jose Mourinho, and it was expected that he would be more involved in the first team this season. But with the immense competition for places, he was loaned out to fellow Premier league side Watford, in a bid to further his development.
However, the 20-year-old only featured once since joining the Hornets in the summer. He also suffered a knee injury midway through the season, which essentially ruled out any little chance he had to trying to get some game time at Vicarage Road. Speaking about his return, Conte said, “There was this situation because Kenedy wasn’t playing with Watford so, for this reason, the best decision was for him to come back and stay with us, working with us, and evaluate him this month and then take the best decision for him: to stay with us, or go on loan another time.”
Like Kenedy, Chelsea’s highly-rated academy product Ruben Loftus-Cheek was one of the few youngsters who was expected to try and make a permanent place for himself in the Chelsea starting XI. But in what was expected to be his breakthrough season, the 20-year-old Englishman has featured only thrice in all competitions this season. With Oscar, Matic, Fabregas and Chalobah all fighting for that one midfield spot alongside N’golo Kante, chances have come few and far in between.
Whilst speaking about Loftus Cheek, Conte insisted that he is counting on the youngster to come good, but would take decision regarding the future after speaking to the club. “I’m sure that Ruben has great potential, and I think it’s important to show this, to improve a lot on different aspects,” he said. “Now he’s in our squad. This season, he had a few injuries. But now he’s in good form and I count on him. There will be a moment when I speak with my club and take the best decision, but I count on him [for now] because I think he has good potential.” [via ESPN]
Kasey Palmer Hopes For Chelsea Opportunity
The 20-year-old playmaker, currently on loan from Chelsea at second-tier side Huddersfield A.F.C, spoke to Goal.com about how he hopes that Chelsea would see that he deserved an opportunity to be a part of the club’s squad someday, even if it meant going out on loan for a few more seasons before that.
“Ideally I would like to go back and play in Chelsea’s first team next season, but realistically it might not be as easy as playing for Huddersfield this season and going back and breaking into the first team straight away,” he said. “It could be a fact of going in and waiting a few seasons on loan for my chance, but I think that I have got to try and stay patient and do all I can when I am here, or while I am somewhere else if that is what happens next season.
Since moving to the John Smith’s Stadium in the summer, he has quickly established himself as an integral part of David Wagner’s first team squad. In 18 championship appearances this season, he has managed to score 3 goals and register 3 assists in his preferred ‘number 10’ role.
He insisted that for now, his focus was only on helping his side achieve as much as possible.”I have just got to try to be focused on myself and do as much I can, personally and hopefully Chelsea will see that and think that I deserve my opportunity. Huddersfield Town is my main target and if we can achieve as much for Huddersfield Town then it will help us all in our own individual ways.”
Chelsea Deny John Terry Talks
It was reported today by The Times, that Chelsea had informed captain John Terry that this would be his last season at the club and that he wouldn’t be offered a contract extension going forward. The report stated that the Blues were looking for a new role for the long serving Captain at Stamford Bridge and that the 36-year-old had also assured the club that he isn’t considering moving to China in January.
However, ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Sunderland tomorrow, Steve Atkins, who is the club’s Head Of Communications, stated that no such talks had taken place and that it was something usually done toward the end of the season. He said, “It’s a little early in the season for stories like this to come out. It is the kind of discussion that we have with players in the last year of their contract, but much later in the season. That discussion has not taken place between John and the club. It’s something that will be discussed later in the season, not for now.”
The former England Captain has featured only 8 times for Antonio Conte’s side this entire campaign, as he has been restricted by multiple injuries this season. Conte was full of praise for the club legend, emphasising his importance within the dressing room even though he wasn’t playing. “John is our captain and I think he is done a great job when he has played. Now he is not playing but he is helping me a lot in the changing room to send the right message to the players,” he said. “He is injured but he is coming with us to every game, home and away, to transfer the right message,” and the Italian thought it was fantastic.
Conte insisted that he got to know Terry well over the course of this season and insisted that he was an extremely important player for him. “I know John very well in this period. I am pleased a lot to know the man, not only the player, and I think he is a really important player for us, if he plays or if he doesn’t play. It’s important for me to send the right message in the changing room, and send the right spirit of this club. I hope to have him available to play, but it’s also important to have him in this role.” [via SkySports]
