Conte looking at big picture

CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte insists the Stamford Bridge club will never again allow stars to slip through the net in the future – even though question marks still remain over his future at the club.

Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku all had spells with Chelsea before going on to become stars with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.

And youngsters like Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been farmed out, as have countless others.

United have committed themselves to develop more home-grown talent and Conte believes that is the formula Chelsea should follow.

He said: “We must have talents like Salah and De Bruyne that remain at the club in the future.

“I think the club has the right people to make the best evaluation of these players. There is a structure that evaluates and makes the best decisions for these players for the past, the present and the future.

“I don’t know who was responsible for Salah leaving. We are talking about the past and I don’t know. For sure, it’s not right to talk about the past. This is not a question for me.

“United’s plan is right. We are trying this season, you can see that Andreas Christensen has a big part to play.

“It’s the same for Ethan Ampadu, the same for Callum Hudson-Odoi. I think that Chelsea are doing this.

“Last season, if you remember, Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah, Kenedy and Charly Musonda all played. I think it’s right, also, to give the space if they deserve to have the space, not just because you are a young player.

“But those players are elsewhere now. Will they be back at Chelsea next season? Now I think it’s better to be focused on the present and not to go too far into the future.”

While Liverpool and Manchester City are winning plaudits for attacking football, Chelsea under Conte have been more conservative.

Despite criticism, he refuses to change and said: “There are many styles of football and not one style that can make you a winner.

“Last season, City and Liverpool didn’t win – we did. For me, in my experience as a player and a manager, it’s important to have the right balance, offensively and defensively.

“You must have a balance when you are attacking and when you are defending. That’s the best way to win something.

“Then every coach is right to have his own best idea of football. I have great respect for all coaches.

“Football is not simple in the way that sometimes you describe it. You must be good at both phases.

This is a good balance.”

TONY STENSON