Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has expressed his dissatisfaction with the work rate of midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, insisting that his relationship with the youngster has moved one step back as a result of his performance against Sydney FC.
The 19-year-old came on as a substitute for striker Diego Costa in the 41st minute but was replaced by another youngster, Jordan Houghton, in the 70th minute.
Expressing his disapproval at Loftus-Cheek's inability to play a pressing game, the manager added that he expected more from a youngster of his age.
According to the Portuguese boss, if Loftus-Cheek doesn't know what it is to play under him and for a club of Chelsea's standards, it is obviously one step back.
Mourinho also drew comparisons with senior players such as John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic to stress that Loftus-Cheek's work rate is poor and he simply can't accept that in a young player when the senior players are setting the standards day in and day out.
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"With Ruben, it's one step back in terms of my relationship with him", Mourinho was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"If he doesn't know what it is to play for me and Chelsea it's one step back.
"At 19 you have to run three times more than the others, you have to play to your limits and not like a superstar with the ball at your feet.
"I don't accept when he's in midfield with Mikel and Matic that when we don't have the ball he doesn't press, doesn't have intensity and he's waiting for everybody else to recover the ball.
"I don't accept that in the superstars so how can I accept that in a kid?"
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