The Blues' academy players have qualified for the FA Youth Cup final but the former Real Madrid boss believes the step up to the first team is a difficult one to make
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes young players struggle to break through at Stamford Bridge due to the high level they must reach.
The Blues' youth team beat Tottenham in midweek to secure their place in the FA Youth Cup final against either Manchester City or Leicester City, though first-team opportunities have been few and far between for those involved.
And Mourinho believes the club does not offer the best environment for players looking to make their way in the game.
"For a player to play in the Chelsea first team, they must be ready," he told reporters."There is no space with this level of demand and responsibility and pressure, there is no space for a player that is not ready.
"For example, when did I play [Dominic] Solanke? I played Solanke while winning 5-0 against Maribor, in a competition where we qualified easily in the group phase.
"I cannot play Solanke against Southampton with 30 minutes to go and the score at 1-1. I can't.
"I work them, I bring them to the first-team squad every day when I feel the level is almost there, to try to make the player ready."
One of those on the cusp of the senior ranks is midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Mourinho revealed he will be given further opportunities to impress next season.
"I think next year Ruben will be ready. Pre-season, he will start with us immediately. Not like this season because this season he joined us only in December.
"Our pre-season will have three big clubs as opponents in friendly matches. This is another experience for him. So I think next year Ruben is ready, also mentally, to cope with that."
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