Antonio Conte challenges his Under-17 World Cup winners to break into Chelsea first team
Four of the England Under-17 heroes who thrashed Spain 5-2 on Saturday are Stamford Bridge starlets
ANTONIO CONTE has challenged his young World Cup winners to force their way into the Chelsea side.
Four of the England Under-17 heroes who thrashed Spain 5-2 on Saturday are Stamford Bridge starlets.
And despite Chelsea’s reputation for not giving their kids a go, manager Conte wants to hand them a chance.
The Italian said: “I think I am the best person to give this type of possibility, if I see they deserve it.
“Don’t forget that my first appearance in Serie A, I was only 16-years-old.
“When I was at Juventus, Paul Pogba was only 18 but after one month he played from the start.”
Blues kids Callum Hudson-Odoi, Marc Guehi, Jonathan Panzo and George McEachran all started the final in Kolkata, while Conor Gallagher came on as a sub.
But star striker Rhian Brewster, the tournament’s leading scorer with eight goals, left Chelsea in 2015 because he thought he had a better chance at Liverpool.
While Dominic Solanke, an England Under-20 World Cup winner this year, also quit Stamford Bridge for Anfield.
Conte though has already picked 17-year-old Welsh midfielder Ethan Ampadu in Carabao Cup games this season.
He added: “I am very happy for our academy because it means our academy is working very well.
“Against Everton last week Ampadu started for the first time and he is only 17.
“I repeat: I want to give these possibilities — but you have to deserve these possibilities.”
Tottenham are hoping Tashan Oakley-Boothe can make the grade at White Hart Lane.
The midfielder has already had a taste of Carabao Cup action.
Of the last 21 players to make their senior England debuts, an incredible 17 have worked under Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Poch said of Oakley-Boothe: “He is a midfielder, box-to-box, good quality, good footballer, a very talented player and I hope he will be important for us in the next few years.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been keeping a close eye on Phil Foden.
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The midfielder was named Player of the Tournament and netted twice as England came back from 2-0 down to destroy the Spanish.
England skipper Joel Latibeaudiere is also on City’s books, as is goalkeeper Curtis Anderson.
Young Anderson faces a tough task in getting ahead of Ederson and Claudio Bravo at the Etihad.
But the shot-stopper had family matters on his mind after the final. He said: “I want to dedicate this win to my grandad who died while I was at the Euro finals in May.
“It’s something you work towards since you start playing football. It’s a dream come true.
“When the second goal went in I knew we would be up against it.
“But as soon as we kicked off we showed a brilliant attitude and I knew we would be OK.”
