Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi has to upgrade his defensive work rate if he intends to become a truly great player.
“I think that Hudson-Odoi is a very good player. The potential is for him becoming a great player and now he has to improve.
“With the ball he is a very good player, he has to improve with movement without the ball. As a winger, he has to improve in the defensive phase but he has the potential to become a very important player,” Sarri said.
Hudson-Odoi, who made his senior debut for Chelsea in the 3-0 FA Cup victory over Newcastle last January, is still yet to start a Premier League match for the club.
He featured as a first-half substitute in the Boxing Day victory over Watford but failed to finish the match with head coach Maurizio Sarri withdrawing him for Emerson Palmieri during the closing stages.
Maurizio Sarri says Callum Hudson-Odoi would be making the wrong decision if he chooses to move to Germany, but admits he has not spoken to the youngster about his Chelsea future.
Bayern Munich have made three offers for the 18-year-old during the January transfer window, the latest of which is in excess of £30m, according to Sky sources.
When asked if moving to Germany would be wise, the head coach said: “I don’t think so, because he is an English player.
“He is very young, he has the future. He has a very great future here in England, with the national team and Chelsea. To stay here is better for him.”
However, Sarri admitted he had not told Hudson-Odoi his thoughts in person, explaining: “I am not in charge of these questions and I do not want to speak to a player about something that doesn’t depend on me.”
BREAKING: Bayern Munich have tabled a fourth bid of £35m for Callum Hudson-Odoi, matching Chelsea’s asking price.
Don’t you dare @ChelseaFC. Don’t even think about it because we all know you are. Don’t. pic.twitter.com/6O7SeRM0no
— Uber Chelsea FC ? (@UberCheIseaFC) January 8, 2019
Hudson-Odoi’s lack of first-team opportunities is believed to be one of the reasons behind his reluctance to commit his future to Chelsea, but Sarri suggested he is willing to hand more chances to the winger.
He impressed in assisting both of the Blues’ goals against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and, after saying in November Hudson-Odoi was not ready for the Premier League, the head coach appears to have changed his mind.
He said: “I know only that for me he is a very important player. He is very young but now he is improving especially in the defensive phase.