Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed that it takes him only 10 minutes to decide if a young player can do well at the club.
The Portuguese tactician insisted that youngsters don’t need a run of games, to prove they are ready physically and mentally.
FA Chairman, Greg Dyke, has called for an increase in the number of home-grown young players in club squads from eight to 12, but Mourinho says his time is of essence.
“We’re in England – we’re not in China or Japan or Portugal – so it’s quite fair that people are trying to get solutions for more local players,” he said.
“That’s more than fair. But you know, I’m a coach. I’m not an office man and for me, as a coach, I think that the players must give confidence for me to say, ‘let’s go’…not the other way.
“The players and the agents would like this, ‘Oh I need five matches in a row to prove myself’.
“You need five matches in a row? Oh, fantastic’. You don’t need five matches in a row. You need 10 minutes.
“In 10 minutes you can show me if you are ready or if you are not ready. Kurt Zouma didn’t have five matches in a row (after he arrived from St Etienne in January).
“In 10 minutes it’s difficult to score a Maradona goal, to get the ball in midfield, dribble around 10 guys and score.
“But that’s not what you’re expecting from a player. In 10 minutes you can show a lot – a lot.
“You can show you are ready, you are mentally ready, you’re physically ready, and you’re ready to cope with the pressure. Ten minutes can say a lot.”
Mourinho blasted England U-21 midfielder, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, earlier this summer, claiming that the 19-year-old did not try enough in a friendly game.
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