Maurizio Sarri has said that Callum Hudson-Odoi is now ready to play important matches for Chelsea.
He made this known after the England international made his first Premier League start against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night.
Hudson-Odoi was named in the starting XI for the home game against Brighton and did very well, providing the assist for the first goal of the game, scored by French striker Olivier Giroud.
Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored Chelsea’s second and third goal in the 3-0 win. The win takes them to fifth position on the Premier League table.
He said: ‘Callum played very well and defended very well. He has improved during the season a lot. He’s ready to play 90 minutes in very important matches.
‘The atmosphere was really good. I want to say thank you to our fans. They were with us for 90 minutes.’
On his side’s performance during the game, the former Napoli boss added: ‘We played good football. We conceded nothing, only one goal opportunity in the last minute.
‘We did very well and scored three wonderful goals. In this match we played like we did in the first part of the season.’
Asked whether Hudson-Odoi’s performance has given him food for thought ahead of Chelsea’s next match, at home to West Ham on Monday, Sarri said: ‘Of course.
‘But he is best on the left, the best of Hazard is on the left, the best of Willian is on the left too but I have only one [position] on the left.
‘The three can play together of course but one must adapt on the other side as Callum did in this match for 90 minutes.’
Hudson-Odoi has impressed in the Europa League this season but had not started a league fixture for the Blues until this game against Brighton
On his decision to hand the teenager his first start against Brighton, Sarri said: ‘This match was very suited to him.
‘They usually defend very low and tight and so he is very able to start wide and for him there was the possibility to play one on one many times in the match.’
In other Premier League news, Manchester City went to the top of the table after a 2-0 win over Cardiff City at the Etihad Stadium.