New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte shared his take on US national team defender Matt Miazga earlier this week, praising the former New York Red Bull but hinting that he could be sent on loan by the English Premier League club this coming season.
Miazga, who turned 21 on July 19, joined Chelsea in January on a transfer from New York. He made two appearances for the Blues last season under interim manager Guus Hiddink.
Conte signed on as Chelsea manager in April, but didn’t officially take over the club until after he finished coaching Italy at Euro 2016 last month. He just led Chelsea on a three-game US tour, and spoke to reporters about Miazga on Tuesday ahead of the club’s 3-1 win against AC Milan in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.
"He's a young player, he has a good technique and I think that he is working very well under the physical aspect, but the tactical aspect he can improve a lot and I think that he is improving with his work," Conte said.
"I think in this moment of his career it's good if he plays to improve. To grow in experience to improve. You can improve if you play every game or a lot of games during the season. But he is a good guy and I am very happy about him."
Should he stay at Chelsea, Miazga would compete for playing time with fellow defenders John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Hector and Kurt Zouma.
The young American, who has a pair of caps with the USMNT, didn’t appear in any of Chelsea’s three matches on their US tour. The London club will start their EPL season on Aug. 15 against West Ham.
