Terry backs Mourinho over Loftus-Cheek comments

Much was made over Jose Mourinho criticising Ruben Loftus-Cheek following the youngster's partially-assed performance against FC Sydney on Tuesday. In a world where we expect youngster to be protected and coddled at every move, the sharp comments from the manager rather punctured the blissful environment that seemed to have surrounded the midfielder since his promotion to the first team.

And it seems that John Terry, at least, approves.

He's a young boy and he needs to take it on the chin. If you want to get into this team you need to be very good and, secondly, you need to be mentally strong. The manager picks his times when he digs people out; that's part of his learning curve and he's got the offseason to think about that now.

He's made a couple of games, come on a couple of times and started a couple of games late in the season, but for him to make that next step and become a regular, it doesn't happen easily. It's going to be hard work for him.

Source: ESPNFC.

The gap between the u-21s and the seniors is enormous in English football, and that's more true for Chelsea than anyone else. While lesser sides might be able to shuttle youngsters up into the first team with relative ease, the Blues have the best squad in the country, and the fighting for fringe places is cutthroat. If Loftus-Cheek wants to be able to secure a spot, there's no question that he has to improve.

Coasting on talent just isn't good enough for Mourinho. Perhaps more importantly, it's not good enough for someone of Loftus-Cheek's extraordinary potential.