Jose Mourinho: If you don't bring players through the academy, it is best to close it
There is no doubt that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has his own way of going about business. Addressing the media ahead of their inconsequential clash against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night, the 51-year-old Portuguese wasn’t the only one who was present at the media briefing.
Along with him was 18-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The former Real Madrid boss confirmed that he will play some part in the match and Mourinho can certainly afford to play the youngster in the game against Lisbon. But to find himself in a press room full of journalists would’ve been a new experience for the young man.
Loftus-Cheek is an out-and-out Blues product, having joined the academy at the age of 8 and made his Under-18 debut as a 14-year-old. He was part of Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup win in 2014.
Mourinho understands the importance of the academy
Mourinho said that if players from academies are not given a chance to play with the senior team, then there is no point in having them.
“If you don't bring kids through the academy, the best thing is to close the academy. If the kids are not good enough or the work not good enough and you don't bring kids up, then close the door and use the money to buy players,” he said.
He also said that providing players from the academies an opportunity to play at the higher level was the only way to find out how well they are doing in nurturing them.
“You need to prove the academy works well and is worth it. It's only possible if the first-team manager stays for a long time, which in this club, in the last 10 years, was not possible. Now I'm trying to format Ruben and other Rubens in relation to my ideas, to his position.”
“Imagine next week if there's a different first-team manager with different ideas. Some product, almost an added product, becomes an empty product and you start everything again. In this moment, the relation between the first-team and the academy is changing based on this stability that, at this moment, we are having,” Mourinho said.
“The first time Ruben trained with me was 18 months ago. In the last two or three weeks, he's been training with me every day. So, in 18 months, I think he remembers every word or feedback he's had in first-team development. This stability is important. The people in the academy feel they are working for something. Which is why tomorrow, when a boy who arrived at Cobham aged eight plays, is not Ruben's day but ‘academy day’,” the 51-year-old added.
Mourinho also said that Loftus-Cheek has come a long way and to feature in the first XI for a club after spending your entire youth career over there would be any kid’s dream.
“One month ago, he played in Lisbon with the Champions League new generation, so you can imagine the difference between playing against Sporting academy, with 1,000 spectators, and then to play against Sporting in the real Champions League, at Stamford Bridge with 45,000 and all the lights on you. To be here since he was eight and to have the chance to play for Chelsea, his first game, is every kid’s dream,” he said.
It will be good if Loftus-Cheek does well: Mourinho
Mourinho further praised the youngster and said that it would be good for the club if he does well at the senior level as well.
“He was not one of the players that started the season with me. He didn't have a pre-season with me. But the way he's training with us, every time he comes, gives me the guarantee that – while not being an end product – he has the quality and the ambition.”
“I'm so happy to give the kids a chance and, especially, when I give the chance and feel that they have the tools to answer well and make a career at Chelsea. An English player, 18, completely made in Chelsea - if he does it and if he succeeds, it's good,” he added.
It would be amazing to make my debut for Chelsea: Loftus-Cheek
When Loftus-Cheek was asked whether he and his fellow teammates at the youth level were aware that John Terry was one of the last players who had tasted success after coming from the academy, he replied saying that everyone was aware about that, but added that staying positive and performing well was the only way to reach the top level.
“We're very aware of that. It's not going to be easy to break in, especially with the squad in front of us, but you can't be negative in these situations. You have to think you can do it and be positive, otherwise you won't get anywhere near.”
“It would be amazing to make my debut. I've been here since I was a young kid, watching Chelsea on the TV and thinking maybe I would be playing at Stamford Bridge. If the opportunity comes, great. If it doesn't, I’ll keep working hard, doing my best every day, and, hopefully, the chance will come,” the 18-year-old said.