Callum Hudson-Odoi: Why Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri should be lauded for treatment of winger

Callum Hudson-Odoi: Why Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri should be lauded for treatment of winger
If Chelsea fans weren’t so busy waiting to boo Jorginho, they might realise that Maurizio Sarri has finally given them what they’ve wanted for years.In a turbulent decade at Stamford Bridge, one thing has remained the same: Chelsea’s utter refusal to use any talent produced by their world class academy.3

Hudson-Odoi is the youngest ever Chelsea player to start four consecutive Premier League games

Bright futures have ultimately been destined to fade away during never ending loan spells, with Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Chalobah eventually giving up.But things are different this season. On Monday night, 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi and 23-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek made their fourth consecutive starts in the Premier League during the 2-2 draw with Burnley.Yet, the overwhelming feeling among the Chelsea faithful seems to be that it took too long. After all, Hudson-Odoi only started his first top flight game earlier this month, despite already becoming a full England international beforehand. His season suffered a cruel end against Burnley when he ruptured his Achilles on Monday night, but when the teenager reflects on his rise to stardom this term, he’ll have Sarri to thank.The Italian isn’t winning any popularity contests at Chelsea, and it would’ve been easy to give in to fans’ pleas and start Hudson-Odoi prematurely.Pressure grew when the youngster handed in a transfer request amid interest from Bayern Munich, but still, Sarri continued to slowly ease the forward into the team.3

Hudson-Odoi’s season is over

This is how you should do it, right? He’s 18, what’s the rush?When you’ve got Willian, Pedro and Eden Hazard ahead of you, any first-team opportunity is a blessing.He developed and grew in confidence with each Europa League appearance and every cameo from the bench, until he was ready.In his press conferences, Sarri always offered perspective and compared Hudson-Odoi’s game time to other teenagers across Europe, and he was right.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Tottenham vs Brighton (Tuesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT
• Luton vs AFC Wimbledon (Tuesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Sheffield United vs Ipswich (Saturday, 5:15pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Brighton vs Newcastle (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
• Norwich vs Blackburn (Saturday, 7:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Leeds United vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 12pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Coventry vs Shrewsbury (Sunday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2

Contrary to popular belief, there’s aren’t actually many 18-year-olds running around Europe’s top clubs every week. It’s not the norm. Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon is the only player under the age of 19 to start more Premier League games than Hudson-Odoi this season.Don’t be fooled, Jadon Sancho’s breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund doesn’t suddenly make Germany the place to go for youth. Sancho, 19, played a similar role to Hudson-Odoi last season before emerging as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest talents a year later.It certainly doesn’t make Bayern Munich the right destination for Hudson-Odoi. They aren’t exactly champions of youth. This is a club which lost Douglas Costa because they preferred to pick Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.3

Don’t be fooled by Sancho’s rise at Dortmund

Why would Hudson-Odoi leave? As a youngster, he has discovered a rarity: a Chelsea manager who trusts him.It’s worth noting the talented teen hasn’t set the world alight during this spell of games, especially against Liverpool at Anfield, but Sarri stuck with him anyway.Besides, with doubt surrounding the future of Eden Hazard; Willian and Pedro both in their thirties; and Chelsea’s transfer ban – the window of opportunity could not be wider.Sarri has shown an admirable sense of calm and rationality among the Hudson-Odoi hysteria to carefully manage the youngster’s development – and for that, he deserves credit.

---

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has responded to a punter who called him out for missing a penalty in Fulham's shock FA Cup defeat by Oldham. Premier League relegation battlers Fulham were dumped out the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon as Callum..
Liverpool stat: FA Cup fixture with Wolves completes

---

The official Manchester United website with news, fixtures, videos, tickets, live match coverage, match highlights, player profiles, transfers, shop and more
Fantasy Football tips: Premier League team news and

---

Their affections lie on opposite sides of the title race, but Liverpool hero Ian Rush is grateful to Manchester City's Sergio Aguero for being the saviour of No 9s around the world.
Rush: Liverpool must target a top-four finish AND a trophy

---

Chelsea chief Bruce Buck has met Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli in Baku on the day of the club's Europa League final against Arsenal.. Images released by Italian outlet Tuttosport showed the pair sitting together at a Four Seasons hotel.
Chelsea chief Buck in talks with Juventus chairman in Baku as

---

Summer Transfer Window European transfer rumours: Arsenal offer deal to Man United target, Man City set for €60m deal The latest transfer rumours and gossip from across Europe Summer Transfer Window Transfer news live: Arsenal in 'advanced talks for Man Utd target, Eden Hazard latest Summer transfer news from the Premier League and beyond
Transfer News LIVE: Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd gossip

---

Fans believe Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier should be worried

---

FA Cup final TV channel: What channel is Manchester City vs Watford on today? THE FA Cup final sees Premier League clubs in domestic action for the final time this season, but where can you watch
How to watch the FA Cup final in Japan: Manchester City vs

---

Fenerbahce have made a loan offer for Chelsea winger Victor Moses, according to reports. Moses, 28, has been frozen out by Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, making just five appearances this season.
Chelsea transfer news: Fenerbahce make loan offer for Blues

---

Manchester United have tumbled would Jose Mourinho have done differently to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer And it's not good news. Solskjaer has not yet come up with a way of taming opposition
Jose Mourinho's future: What next after his Manchester United

---

Chelsea vs Tottenham line-ups: Teams confirmed for Carabao

---

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been lethal for Arsenal with only Mohamed Salah scoring more Premier League goals since he arrived in England. Aubameyang came off the bench to score twice as Arsenal
F365's top ten Premier League strikers of the season

---

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Liverpool at
Google News - Liverpool beat Porto in Champions League match

---

Bournemouth vs Tottenham teams: Spurs make three changes as Mauricio Pochettino names strong XI. About Tottenham Tottenham is a district of North London, England, in the London Borough of Haringey. It is 5.9 miles (9.5 km) north-north-east of Charing Cross. 1 Heung-Min Son celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur
Heung-Min Son - talkSPORT

---

In our look at the latest Chelsea-related news stories from the media, former referee Mark Halsey believes Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera were fortunate not to be sent off in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with the Blues, Arsene Wenger feels that Chelsea need more pace to improve and Jose Mourinho reveals his biggest strengths and weaknesses.
The forgotten story of … the referee smuggled from irate fans

---