Loftus-Cheek: Conte told me I needed to leave and play games
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted that Antonio Conte instructed him to go out on loan in order to play matches.
The England Under-21 international secured a temporary move to Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, and has been a shining light for them in what has been a terrible start to the season.
Palace have lost all six of their opening fixtures, failing to score a goal in any, and therefore sit rock bottom.
However, Loftus-Cheek has caught the eye with some energetic performances, and is looking to help them get bounce back after a simply atrocious start to the campaign.
Speaking to the Daily Star, though, Loftus-Cheek insisted that Conte had made him no guarantees over his chances of playing for the Blues next season.
Not at all. But I don’t think it’s right to because you never know how I’ll preform this season. So, right now I’m just literally focused on Palace.
He (Conte) said I need to play games. Chelsea is a big club and there’s a lot of pressure which I understand.
For me, I think it was the right time for me to go away from Chelsea right now and get my game time elsewhere.
Loftus-Cheek is held in high regard at Stamford Bridge and is just one of many talented youngsters that Chelsea have secured loan deals elsewhere for this season.