Stamford Bridge boss criticizes teenager.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho has leveled criticism towards young midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek following his display during Chelsea’s friendly with Sydney FC.
READ MORE:
Chelsea FC news.
Diego Costa exit: 8 replacements Chelsea could sign, including Man Utd misfit & Bundesliga goal machine
Chelsea lead £57m midfield powerhouse chase as they prepare to use Oscar as bait
The 19 year old impressed on his Premier League debut against Liverpool earlier this month but his attitude was severely criticised by Mourinho, who publicly singled out the England Under 19 international.
‘Ruben said he had a pain in his back but what I was feeling was that he only had the pain when Sydney had the ball. When Chelsea had the ball he was playing very well, but when Sydney had the ball I think he was more impressed by watching Matic and Mikel work, instead of him working.
‘So, with Ruben, it’s one step back in terms of my relationship with him. If he doesn’t know what it is to play for me and Chelsea it’s one step back.
‘He has to learn that at 19 you have to run three times more than the others, you have to play to your limits and not play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is not Under-18s.
‘The Under-18 competition is too easy for him. He’s too good to play in the Under-18s but I don’t accept that when he’s playing in midfield with Mikel and Matic when we don’t have the ball he doesn’t press, doesn’t have intensity and he’s waiting for everybody else to recover the ball. I don’t accept that in the superstars so how can I accept that in a kid? He has to learn what it takes to play for us.’ Mourinho stated (Via Official Chelsea Website)
Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Loic Remy goal as the Premier League side eased past Sydney FC in front of a massive 83,000 crowd.