Maurizio Sarri has urged Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi not to get carried away by his England heroics on debut.
Sarri has come under heavy criticism this week because the winger started an international game before the Chelsea coach had handed him one in the Premier League.
The 18-year-old impressed, firstly as a substitute in the 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic and then for the full 90 minutes versus Montenegro – where England won 5-1.
It has put even more pressure on Sarri to put the winger in the first XI for Chelsea’s remaining fixtures.
But Sarri claims the standard of England’s opposition is not as good compared to what Chelsea face in the top flight.
He said: “I think the qualification for the European Championships, the level is really very low. It's not the Premier League level, of course.
“I cannot understand why there is only a group (to qualify). Maybe it's better to have the European Cup for the first level and a European Cup for a second level.
“It's incredible that a player who is very important for a club has to play in Malta and Cyprus, in Liechtenstein or Andorra.
“I think he (Hudson-Odoi) needs to improve more. And I want him to improve more. And he has to stay with his feet on the floor.
“He has to work every day, and improve the left, improve in the defensive phase, improve in the movement without the ball.
“I want him to improve because the potential is really, really very, very high. And so it's right that he continues to improve. Otherwise we risk stopping him.
“He is, in this moment, a very, very good player. But he has the possibility to become more (better). I want him to become more (better).”
