Chris Sutton claims Chelsea boss Antonio Conte doesn’t trust 24-year-old striker
The Chelsea legend claims Antonio Conte doesn't trust Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi
Chris Sutton has claimed that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte doesn’t trust Michy Batshuayi.
The Blues manager was forced to rely on Batshuayi following Alvaro Morata’s hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Conte opted to replace Morata with Willian during the top-flight clash against the Citizens in what was a clear sign that the Italian coach didn’t have complete faith in Batshuayi.
The Chelsea boss handed Batshuayi his second start of the Premier League campaign for the west London side’s short trip across the English capital to Crystal Palace.
The former Marseille striker lasted 57 minutes before Conte opted to replace the Belgium international with World Cup winner Pedro Rodriguez in the 57th minute.
Batshuayi looked an unhappy figure as the striker was replaced by a winger with the defending champions trailing 2-1 to the Premier League’s worst side.
Former Chelsea striker Sutton believes there can be no doubt that Conte doesn’t completely trust the Belgian forward.
“Costa was a centre forward who played a lot of games and over the last couple of seasons was dependable,” Sutton told Metro.co.uk.
“If you look at Morata’s record in terms of starts over the last three or four seasons he hasn’t started that many games. That was always a risk bringing him in and then not having another striker.
“Can he be relied on to play 30/40 games? I’m not so sure he can. ‘There is obviously Batshuayi but I don’t think Conte trusts him.
“The fact he had [Eden] Hazard on in the Man City game [at Stamford Bridge on 30 September] instead of Batshuayi, Conte doesn’t seem to have great faith in him.”
Chelsea won the Premier League title in two of the past three seasons under Jose Mourinho and then Antonio Conte.
The Blues signed six players in the summer transfer window to improve their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League.
