Maurizio Sarri has hinted that Callum Hudson-Odoi could start for Chelsea in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
Hudson-Odoi, 17, is viewed as one of the most promising youngsters to come through Chelseas academy in years and has been one of the breakout stars of pre-season this summer.
The teenager started in Chelseas penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in Dublin and caused Hector Bellerin problems all night from the left wing, with the Blues missing a number of their big names.
Eden Hazard, Willian, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are all still missing following their respective World Cup campaigns and Hudson-Odoi could be in line to start on Sunday afternoon.
More: Football
Advertisement Advertisement
Asked about the young Englishman after Chelseas defeat, Sarri responded: He will be a very, very strong player.
Will he be in the first team squad? I think so. He will be staying with us for all the season.
Sarri admitted that his team to play City this weekend will be similar to the XI which started versus Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
The starting XI today is very near to the starting XI in the Community Shield, he said.
An Alexandre Lacazette equaliser after Antonio Rudigers first-half goal enabled Arsenal the chance to win on penalties and Sarri believes a lack of match fitness affected his players.
We had our first training on 16 July and we are late compared to Arsenal on the physical condition, the Italian said.
We have done very well in the first half and then we made a mistake in the last minute.
Advertisement Advertisement
Maurizio Sarri has hinted that Callum Hudson-Odoi could start for Chelsea in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
Hudson-Odoi, 17, is viewed as one of the most promising youngsters to come through Chelseas academy in years and has been one of the breakout stars of pre-season this summer.
The teenager started in Chelseas penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in Dublin and caused Hector Bellerin problems all night from the left wing, with the Blues missing a number of their big names.
Eden Hazard, Willian, Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are all still missing following their respective World Cup campaigns and Hudson-Odoi could be in line to start on Sunday afternoon.
More: Football
Advertisement Advertisement
Asked about the young Englishman after Chelseas defeat, Sarri responded: He will be a very, very strong player.
Will he be in the first team squad? I think so. He will be staying with us for all the season.
Sarri admitted that his team to play City this weekend will be similar to the XI which started versus Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
The starting XI today is very near to the starting XI in the Community Shield, he said.
An Alexandre Lacazette equaliser after Antonio Rudigers first-half goal enabled Arsenal the chance to win on penalties and Sarri believes a lack of match fitness affected his players.
We had our first training on 16 July and we are late compared to Arsenal on the physical condition, the Italian said.
We have done very well in the first half and then we made a mistake in the last minute.
Advertisement Advertisement
