Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is eager to take full advantage of the club's academy products over the next few seasons.
The Blues have struggled to bring academy graduates into the first-team squad since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2003, but Mourinho believes that he is the right man to help the club change its philosophy.
"If you don't bring kids through the academy, the best thing is to close the academy," the Chelsea boss told reporters. "If the kids are not good enough or the work not good enough, and you don't bring kids up, then close the door and use the money to buy players.
"You need to prove the academy works well and is worth it.
"It's only possible if the first-team manager stays for a long time, which in this club in the last 10 years, was not possible."
Mourinho has confirmed that 18-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek will make his first-team debut against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
Callum Mulvihill
