Chelsea news: Antonio Conte says Blues are trying to build with ‘younger players’ after selling veteran stars in last 12 months

ANTONIO CONTE has revealed that Chelsea are trying to evolve with younger players this season.

The Blues have been inconsistent after a dominant title-winning campaign last term.

EPA

Antonio Conte says Chelsea are trying to evolve with younger players this season[/caption]

But the Italian has said that a drop off may have been expected after a number of Chelsea heroes were replaced by much younger, inexperienced players.

John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel all left in 2017.

The Blues legends had played almost 1,500 combined games and had won a number of trophies.

Each were key men in title-winning seasons as well as being first team regulars in the victorious 2012 Champions League campaign.

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Chelsea legends John Obi Mikel, Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry all left in 2017 – the trio played more than 1,500 games for the club, winning numerous trophies[/caption]

This season, Andreas Christensen (21) and Tiemoue Bakayoko (23) have become first-team regulars, while the likes of Jake Clarke-Salter (20), Dujon Sterling (18) and Ethan Ampadu (17) have all played.

Conte told the club website: “[Terry, Ivanovic and Mikel] were very important because they transferred to the other players the sense of belonging at this club.

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Andreas Christense, 21, has been a key member for the Blues this season[/caption]

AFP or licensors

Teenager Ethan Ampadu, 17, has played four games already for the Blues[/caption]

“We have lost a lot of players who wrote so much history at this club.

“Now we are trying to build something important with younger players.

“This season, we brought young players to the squad. Our average age is lower. I think we are doing a really good job.

“We have worked very hard to improve our team and to create a fundamental base that is very important for the present, but especially for the future.

“In this situation, you must work very hard, and at the same time you must have great patience.

“Everyone wants to win, everyone wants to reach great results in a short time, but you must understand this moment takes time.

“And this is a really important moment for Chelsea.”