Hiddink gives his verdict on Traore’s display

traore2

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink says Bertrand Traore must learn to conquer his nerves after a mixed display in the 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

Traore, who was playing up front in place of the injured Diego Costa, scored a sensational goal from 20 yards after a fine turn on the edge of the box just before the break.

The 20-year-old now has four goals for the Blues, but he struggled in the early stages on just his second start for the club.

“He showed with the goal that he has the capacity to do a lot,” Hiddink said.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink
Chelsea are unbeaten in the league since Hiddink’s return to Stamford Bridge

“You can see his quality but also young players have to try to get control and dominate their nerves, because you saw that in the beginning.

“You see in parts of the game he has quality he has shown already when he came in at Stamford Bridge, but it is a little bit different when you start at Stamford Bridge.”

All of Traore’s previous three goals were scored in 5-1 wins after coming on a substitute.

And Hiddink insisted the Burkina Faso forward earned his starting place ahead of Loic Remy and Pato, who is still yet to make his Chelsea debut.

Hiddink said: “We have some strikers now in the team who compete in a healthy way amongst themselves and if they show what they can do in training then it will be rewarded.”