Maurizio Sarri has said Callum Hudson-Odoi must continue to improve in order to become a top player after the teenager was on the scoresheet against Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday.
Hudson-Odoi scored Chelsea’s third goal at Stamford Bridge, helping his side to put one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Hudson-Odoi’s contribution against Kyiv: Four key things to know…
- Hudson-Odoi was introduced with 12 minutes to go when Chelsea were already 2-0 up.
- In the 90th minute, the winger latched onto a pass from another substitute, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and finished clinically.
- The goal gave Chelsea a three-goal cushion which could be crucial going into the second leg.
- Hudson-Odoi has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven appearances across all competitions, scoring four and assisting three.
Ahead of the tie, Sarri suggested he does not want to put too much pressure on Hudson-Odoi while he is still young.
And despite another important contribution from the 18-year-old on Thursday, his manager is still keen to avoid thrusting Hudson-Odoi into limelight.
“The third goal for us is very, very important – 3-0 is a very important result,” Sarri told BT Sport in his post-match interview.
“He is a very important young player but I think that he is 18 and he needs to improve.
“I don’t like when the press or the fans put too much pressure [on Hudson-Odoi] because at the moment he has only to think to improve.
“It is impossible to be at the top at 18. So he needs to improve to be at the top when he is 22 or 23, like all the other players.”
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Are Chelsea’s senior players blocking Hudson-Odoi’s path?
After his impressive cameo, there will be calls for Hudson-Odoi to be starting more regularly for Chelsea.
Sarri has been criticised for opting against using young players in the past, but the form of the team’s senior attacking players can’t be ignored.
Pedro bagged his second goal in as many home games, while Willian scored a sublime free-kick in his 100th European appearance.
Eden Hazard will almost certainly return to the line-up against Wolves this weekend, so Hudson-Odoi looks set for another game on the bench.
His future at Chelsea may depend on whether Hazard signs a new contract.
The post Hudson-Odoi “needs to improve” to become a top player – Sarri appeared first on Squawka News.
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