Chelsea's assistant manager Gianfranco Zola says the club has given Ghanaian youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi more first-team opportunities than other 18-year-olds in Europe.
The 56-year-old Italian rejected claims that Chelsea's coaching staff should be doing more to make Callum Hudson-Odoi feel valued at the club.
Hudson-Odoi, 18 has yet to make a Premier League start for the London-based side and was limited to six minutes from the bench in Thursday's Europa League win at Malmo.
In January, Bayern Munich failed with a £35m bid for the winger, who also had a transfer request turned down, but Zola rejected claims that Chelsea's coaching staff should be doing more to make him feel valued.
“You need to understand he is surrounded by top players and you have to work hard to be better than them", Gianfranco Zola on Callum Hudson-Odoi
"Sorry but I disagree with this," Zola said. "He is always on the edge of the team.
"As soon as there is an opportunity he plays, sometimes from the beginning. The manager is giving plenty of reasons for him to feel involved and wanted.
"There are not many 18-year-olds at top clubs in Europe who are playing as much as him. On top of that, he is a player that we appreciate and believe is growing up.
Hudson-Odoi made his 13th appearance of the season in Chelsea's win in Malmo
"He has a bright future at this club. All of the coaching group likes him. You need to understand he is surrounded by top players and you have to work hard to be better than them.
"That's what we want from him, to make sure he keeps improving because he can do better."