COMMENT: Nathaniel Chalobah knows it. No matter those pushing an agenda. Playing their silly games. He knows without Antonio Conte there'd be no £5m move to Watford. And no five-year contract.
Conte's been hung out to dry on this one. Sliced and diced. Or better yet, copied and pasted. The Chelsea manager's claims of Tiemoue Bakayoko being an upgrade on Chalobah infuriated many. Giving easy fodder to those wailing about a lack of opportunity for local lads. And making the Italian an easy, easy scapegoat.
Yeah, okay, this column has been on that side of the fence too. But Conte's not the problem. Indeed, if Chelsea's brief to the manager was to provide evidence their development path actually worked - the Italian couldn't have done a better job. Particularly with Chalobah.
“I think, honestly, at this moment there is a great difference between the two players," stated Conte when discussing Chalobah and Bakayoko.
“You're talking about one player who has played with Monaco, who has maybe 100 appearances for that club. He has played in the Champions League and has played regularly. Try to understand the difference before you judge. People who do, don't understand the difference."
Pretty provocative stuff. Conte, with these words, suggested Chalobah was cut loose simply as he wasn't a patch on Bakayoko. The difference was just too stark. But there was a wider context. And in the same interview, Conte intimated he'd wanted to keep hold of the Londoner.
“Sometimes I think the young players lose their patience very quickly — a lot of time because of parents or the people around them. I think the advisors aren't right.
"The first thing they should have is good patience. Trust the club. Then work very hard to know that to play at this level you must be stronger – and very good.
“Sometimes, young players think they can play easily in the first team, but that's not true. I have to pick 11 players. Not only me, every coach."
That was the real message from Conte. The one that was lost amongst the inciteful stuff. He wanted Chalobah around. A programme was in place for him to continue his development. This wasn't an either/or situation. Bakayoko and Chalobah could co-exist.
But at 22 and after 12 years in Blue, Chalobah now has taken the plunge and cut the strings. Six spells away on-loan. A record number of youth caps. He now has a five-year multi-million pound contract locked in his safe. He's a Premier League player. A £5m player - cheap at half the price. And he knows, even those honest enough around him know, none of this looked likely 12 months ago.
It was Conte who gave him his chance in preseason. It was Conte who rejected approaches from Leicester City and Napoli to ferry him away - yet again - on-loan. And it was the manager who gave him his Chelsea debut 11 years after joining the club from Fulham.
This was no foreign coach ignoring English talent. It was the exact opposite. It wasn't Conte who was in charge of Chalobah at Burnley or Reading. Nottingham Forest or Middlesbrough. It took the Italian to give Chalobah his break into the big time.
A break which has landed him status as a Premier League footballer. A new club. And the interest of Gareth Southgate, the England coach. Which is where it really gets interesting...
Seven years ago, an outstanding group of English teens defeated Spain to win the U17 Euros. John Peacock's team was built around a midfield of two Chelsea kids - Chalobah and Josh McEachran - and a lad from Everton by the name of Ross Barkley.
Fast forward to today and after all the hype, all the time and column inches devoted to Barkley, it appears it will be Chalobah who will be the sole survivor from that 2010 team to make Southgate's latest squad. And he knows... He must do... That without the intervention of Conte, none of this would be happening.
Which is why those Chalobah left behind can take heart. Charly Musonda has been given a squad number and a chance in preseason. Jeremie Boga, who's been with the club since 11 years of age, has shone in games against Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Both, like Chalobah, have spent more time away from Chelsea on-loan during their senior careers than at Cobham. But now they can see the path works. You won't stagnate. The club won't allow it. And with Conte, there will be opportunities.
It was Chalobah who pushed to leave. Not Conte. He knows that. Just as he knows, without the development path. And without the manager's confidence. Premier League football and England would've fantasy stuff.
Just as it was before he met Conte 12 months ago.
Source: tribalfootball.com