Guus Hiddink’s Investment in Youth Will Only Work If Chelsea Follow Suit

Too often Chelsea have started one of their many “projects” only to lose courage at the vital moment and take another direction.

It’s happened time and again with managers, while new systems and philosophies haven’t always had the backing to prosper, either. Now the club can’t afford to turn its back on what Guus Hiddink has started with the emerging talent at Stamford Bridge.

There’s a group of Chelsea youngsters who are beginning to flourish in the first team thanks to Hiddink’s influence. Injuries and suspensions have helped, but the Blues’ interim coach has shown arguably more appetite for blooding youngsters in his six months back at the club than any other manager in the Roman Abramovich era.

With little to play for by way of silverware, it’s the one thing resembling a legacy that Hiddink can leave behind when he departs this summer. That said, it would have all been worth little if Antonio Conte doesn’t pick up where Hiddink left off.

“It depends also on the development … first I must be convinced of their quality and I will then see what the situation is,” Hiddink said at his first press conference back as Chelsea manager in December when asked by Bleacher Report if he’d be giving youth players a chance.

“It’s a little bit too early to say now that tomorrow I will bring in a youngster of 17, 18 or 19 years old. But in general, if they show they are competitive, then I am not against giving them opportunities.”

Hiddink has delivered on that message. When the opportunities have been there, we’ve seen Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore, Matt Miazga, Kenedy and Baba …

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