Antonio
Conte says sending Michy Batshuayi on loan in January would be a failure of
his management.
Chelsea paid Marseille £33m for the Belgium striker in the summer, but he
has spent much of the season as back-up to the Premier League's top scorer
Diego Costa.
And Batshuayi was unable to earn a first league start against Bournemouth on
Boxing Day, despite Costa's suspension, Conte instead going without a
recognised centre-forward.
But at his post-match press conference the Blues boss flatly denied loaning
out Batshuayi next month is an option, saying: "This player is a new player
for Chelsea and to go on loan now is a defeat for the club and above all for
me.
"We have to continue to work with him every day to try together to improve
him. I want to win and every decision I make is because I want to win and I
have to take the best decision.
"Michy Batshuayi is a really good player, but he's a young player and he's
trying to adapt to this league, this football.
"I try to make the best decision for the team, but I'm sure Michy could have
the possibility to show his talent in the future."
Conte's decision was vindicated against Bournemouth as Pedro scored twice
and Eden Hazard added a penalty in a 3-0 win - a 12th straight league
victory that set a new club record and left Chelsea seven points clear at
the top.
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