Freedom: Omari Hutchinson is enjoying life at Chelsea
(Picture: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Omari Hutchinson says Graham Potter has given him the “freedom” to express himself at Chelsea.
While the Blues lost to Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the 19-year-old impressed during the friendly, hitting the post with a brilliant effort when cutting inside his marker.
Hutchinson arrived at Stamford Bridge from London rivals Arsenal over the course of the summer as part of a wide-scale investment at academy level.
Following the Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover, the club helped academy director Neil Bath’s overhaul at that level, billed as ‘Vision 2030’.
The strategy is to create a teenage side below the first-team ready to step in and plug gaps when needed, with a long-term succession plan in mind.
Hutchinson was one of the headline arrivals alongside Inter Milan’s Cesare Casadei and Aston Villa’s Carney Chukwuemeka.
The teenager was included in some of Potter’s first-team squads heading into the World Cup break and the Chelsea boss hailed his performance in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Hutchinson said: “They give me the freedom on the pitch.
“They tell me to express myself, so that’s all I can ask for really.
“Everyday I come into Chelsea I just want to work hard, whether that’s with the U21s or the first-team.”
