CRITICS HAVE GOT A CHEEK OVER RUBEN
Conte: Easier for him in a friendly than a high-pressure Prem game
ANTONIO CONTE has hit back at critics unimpressed with Chelsea’s handling of England new boy Ruben Loftus-cheek.
Conte suggested people shouldn’t get carried away with Gareth Southgate picking him for England, because it is much easier to select a youngster for a pressure-free friendly than a highstakes league game.
Loftus-cheek’s man-of-the-match debut against Germany, and followup start against Brazil, has led to fingers being pointed at Chelsea managers past and present for his lack of game time at Stamford Bridge.
Loftus-cheek’s dad Trevor claimed ex-boss Jose Mourinho held his son back, while the 21-year-old admitted his shortage of first-team action has slowed his development.
But former Italy boss Conte put forward the case for club managers, saying: “You have to understand, there are two different moments.
“If I call up a young player for a World Cup qualifier, it means I think one thing.
“If you try to call up a young player during a friendly game, because you’re playing in the World Cup, this is another thing as you can experiment. A different pressure.
“We can see two different situations – when the result is not important. But, for the club, the result is always important, otherwise they sack the manager and there is the pressure of the press. It is totally different.”
Conte also leapt to Danny Drinkwater’s defence in his club-vcountry row and told Southgate: “You should have called me”.
Three Lions boss Southgate claimed Drinkwater turned down an England call up because he wasn’t fit enough, but Blues chief Conte added: “Sometimes there is a way that is very easy. Call the coach and ask, ‘Is it OK? I can do this?’ I am telling you this because I was coach for the national team.
“This way you also avoid a misunderstanding about Drinkwater, because he was injured and wasn’t really 100 per cent fit to go with the national team.
“Danny was very honest and doesn’t deserve to be attacked for it.”