
Antonio
Conte has defended his youth policy at Chelsea and told academy players to
be patient for a first-team place.
Chelsea have allowed highly-rated youngsters Dominic Solanke (Liverpool),
Nathan Ake (Bournemouth) and Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford) to leave this
summer, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace) and Tammy Abraham
(Swansea) have also departed on loan.
Conte has brought in 22-year-old midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco for
£40m, though, and warned young players they should not expect a place in his
first team too soon.
"Sometimes I think the young players lose their patience very quickly," said
Conte.
"A lot of the time because of parents or the people around them. I think the
advisers aren't right.
"The first thing they should have is good patience. Trust the club. Then
work very hard to know that to play at this level you must be stronger - and
very good.
"Sometimes, young players think they can play easily in the first team, but
that's not true. I have to pick 11 players. Not only me, every coach."