Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has praised the talent of the club’s young players.
The Blues’ academy side are in the FA Cup final for the sixth time in seven seasons, whilst they have also successfully defended the UEFA Youth League, the Under-19 equivalent of the Champions League.
It is widely accepted that Chelsea have one of the best youth systems in England, but it doesn’t seem easy for these players to progress into the first-team.
Speaking to Goal, Fabregas praised the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy and Bertrand Traore – three players who have, against the norm, managed to break into the senior side at Chelsea before their 21st birthday.
Ruben Loftus Cheek has scored one league goal this season.
Ruben Loftus Cheek has scored one league goal this season.
“All of them have their qualities and they are pushing hard to have their spot,” the Spain international said.
“Kenedy is a real talent, Ruben is playing [in the first-team] now. Traore has been in the squad for the whole year and had his chances as well. It is fantastic to see.
“They won the UEFA Youth League for the second time in a row. The quality is there, the talent is there. It is about how they will develop to be a better player with the senior players.”
Loftus-Cheek was the last academy graduate to break into the senior squad and he, along with the other duo that Fabregas mentioned, have played regularly under interim manager Guus Hiddink.
However, right now Chelsea have nothing to play for, which makes it easier for Hiddink to play these youngsters.
The telling moment will be in August, seeing how many of these players are kept in the side once new manager Antonio Conte has begun his reign as Blues boss.
Kenedy has, in an understated fashion, performed well for Chelsea this term, making 13 Premier League appearances.
Loftus-Cheek has impressed by winning 58% of his duels in the league – the second-best record of the west Londoners’ midfielders.
Meanwhile, Traore has displayed a squad-high 75% shot accuracy in the top-flight, scoring twice.
Chelsea have conceded 45 Premier League goals in 2015/16 – already 13 more than in the entirety of last season.
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