According to The Guardian, Jose Mourinho has recently spoken about the state of Chelsea’s youth academy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s pivotal role in its success. Jose’s latest quotes have given my admiration for the English youngster a run for its money:
“This year, the most important title for the academy was Ruben, not the UEFA Youth League or the FA Youth Cup. It was Ruben: the best trophy. I’m excited but I keep emotional control. If I don’t I’d lose the players or help them go the wrong way but, yes, I am excited – but with stability. At this minute, that’s what they need,” said Mourinho. The nineteen-year-old will most likely feature tonight at West Brom. According to Mourinho, Ruben’s ascension into the first team is greater inspiration to the other young players than any trophy the academy could possibly win.
The Portuguese also noted that transfer business this summer will not get in the way of youngsters like Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s first team hopes (*cough* Paul Pogba *cough*). “Maybe he’ll [Loftus-Cheek] end up being better than anyone I buy and, if that is the case, he’ll play and the one I buy won’t” he said, and in the process showed us how high he’s prioritised bringing through the youth into his Chelsea team. After all, the last player to come through the academy and sustain a career in the first team is John Terry…
At the same time, Jose shed some light on the intentions of the Nathan transfer – intentions that I had previously predicted. “Nathan will not be in Chelsea’s squad next year, simple as that,” he said. “You buy, in very good circumstances before the price goes to the moon. You develop the player. He belongs to you, is on loan, and in the right moment you bring him back,” said the Portuguese. Or sell him for a profit, eh Jose? In other words: welcome to Vitesse, Nathan!
Three-time Premier League champion Jose Mourinho had a lot to say about the academy and his confidence in its eventual success. “Academies are a process,’ he began. ‘It starts with the facilities but it ends with the co-operation between the academy and the first team. At this moment we are working well. The players are the best witness of that work and they feel it. We know we are going in the right direction. These kids trust us and know what we do is the best for them. They know the decisions for next season are the best decisions for them. Ruben is going to stay as a member of the first-team squad,” he went on to say.
“The others who have been here in the seniors for one year [Christensen, if he signs a new contract, Aké, Jamal Blackman among others] are ready for the next step: that’s not the first team but a loan to a good team, to a good league and then to come back. That would open space for kids who are now in the academy to be in the first-team squad next season.“
“So imagine Christensen going on loan. If he does, he goes to a high-level market. It opens space for another defender in the academy now to become part of the first team. If his development in the first team is so strong, like Ruben’s, that allows him to stay in the first team for ever, then perfect. If not, he reaches another level and gets another loan. So, for example, maybe Ola Aina will be in our first-team squad next year.
“We have this system in place for them – and I know it brings results.”
