With Chelsea not having a game this weekend, the Blues played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Those who did not start in Wednesday's draw with FC Salzburg took part in the friendly match against Graham Potter's former side. Chelsea came out 2-1 victors with youngster Carney Chukwuemeka scoring both goals for the Blues.
The 18-year-old, who signed for Chelsea for around £20million from Aston Villa over the summer transfer window, is yet to feature for the club's first-team this season. football.london understands Chukwuemeka held a conversation with Thomas Tuchel before signing for Chelsea where he was assured he would have a prominent role with the senior squad this term.
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That hasn't been the case so far, unfortunately, and with Tuchel being sacked from his job last week, he could be forgiven for wondering what is next this season. However, he will have been massively encouraged to take part in a behind-closed-doors friendly where he was able to showcase his talent to Potter.
The problem is for Chukwuemeka is that he has a very tough position to try and make his own. Chelsea have the likes of Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Denis Zakaria and Conor Gallagher, who are all currently ahead of him in the pecking order for a spot in centre midfield.
So that makes it all the more important that when he is handed opportunities such as the one on Saturday, he is able to shine on command. One thing that will encourage Chukwuemeka is that Potter has somewhat of a track record of helping the development of young players.
During his time at Brighton, Potter brought through Tariq Lamptey, who has since made himself a key member of the Seagulls' first-team. Potter was also at the helm when the signing of 20-year-old Moises Caicedo was made. Caicedo has quickly turned into one of Brighton's most important and impressive players.
Todd Boehly and the rest of the new-look Chelsea board are clearly putting a big focus into developing the club's academy system. That explains the number of young players, such as Chukwuemeka, Omari Hutchinson, Eddie Beach, Cesare Casadei, Gabriel Slonina and Zak Sturge, who all came to west London over the summer.
Potter has a proven track record of helping the progression and development of young players and that's why the former Brighton head coach was chosen as the perfect replacement for Tuchel. It's a long-term project at Chelsea under Boehly with Potter seen as the ideal man to lead it.
For Chukwuemeka, he can expect chances this season. They may be few and far between, but that's why – as he did on Saturday – he needs to take them when they do come around.
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