London Football News

Hoddle: Sarri wrong on Hudson-Odoi – and not picking Loftus-Cheek is ‘sacrilege’

Callum Hudson-Odoi has to be given more opportunities otherwise he will leave, says former Chelsea boss Glenn Hoddle.

The 18-year-old winger was once again left out of the starting line-up for the routine 3-0 Europa League win over Dynamo Kiev on Thursday.

But he made a telling contribution with the third goal in an impressive late cameo appearance.

Hoddle, back working as a pundit after suffering a heart attack last year, said on BT Sport. “He is a talented player and they have to give him more time on the pitch.

“He is a wonderful talent; he has great potential, he has the ability but will he get the chances?”

Hudson Odoi’s goal was his third goal in the Europa League and fourth in a total of 16 appearances this season, but he has only started seven games. And the teenager has not started a Premier League match.

Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has said there is too much pressure being heaped on Hudson-Odoi and he will not become a top player until he is 22 or 23.

But Hoddle says the winger, who is still being linked with a move to Bayern Munich, needs to start featuring regularly otherwise he will look to leave.

“He has to go through the ups and downs and come through so you can say ’we’ve got a player’,” Hoddle added.

“If you don’t have the best of games then you learn as a player. If it is all rosy in the garden and you come on for ten minutes, without the pressure, then you will never learn and progress as a player.”

Hoddle also said England international midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who came on and won the free-kick for the second goal and created the third for Hudson-Odoi, is another player who desperately needs more regular action.

“Loftus-Cheek is not getting as many games as he should do because of Mateo Kovacic and that is sacrilege,” Hoddle said.

“That is a classic example of how are English players are being stopped coming through.”


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