Loftus-Cheek: Chelsea players out to impress Conte

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is determined to impress incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in the final weeks of the season.

Conte will replace Guus Hiddink as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor at Stamford Bridge ahead of 2016-17 after signing a three-year deal earlier this week.

And 20-year-old midfielder Loftus-Cheek – who scored his first Premier League goal in last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa – says Chelsea’s players are keen to give a good account of themselves in their last seven games of the campaign, despite having little to play for.

“We want to impress,” Loftus-Cheek told the official Chelsea website.

“Everybody still needs to be at their best and that’s down to us individually. You know the new manager might be watching and when you play, every player wants to do their best.”

Loftus-Cheek also spoke of his hope that Hiddink will use the final weeks of his interim tenure to blood some youngsters.

“If the boss decides to put a few young players in it will be great for us and the academy,” he added.

“It would be great if the manager decides to give us more games between now and the end of the season.

“We don’t have much to play for now, so it’s a good chance for us boys to get some game time.”