Maurizio Sarri fears excessive pressure could ruin Callum Hudson-Odoi promising career.
Hudson-Odoi, has been frustrated for not getting regular first-team football, and handed in a transfer request in January amid offers from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
CHELSEA fans had called for the winger to be brought on and he justified the hype with an impressive cameo.
Sarri warned against hastily thrusting Hudson-Odoi into the limelight.
"I think to have pressure when you are 18 is very dangerous for a player," said the Italian.
"You can lose the target. When you're 18 the target is to improve - to improve, tactically, mentally and physically.
"So, it's dangerous for him. I don't like to speak about him for this reason.
"Now I think we need to improve without the pressure of the media, without the pressure of the fans, without the pressure of the club.
"He (doesn't) have to do anything to convince me because I am convinced that he is a very great player."
"He is in my mind for every match. In England, I think he's the only to be born in 2000 to have played 16 matches in the first team," continued Sarri.
"In my opinion a player at 18 years cannot be at the top yet.
"He needs to improve because he will be able to arrive at the top only at 22 or 23, like every other player."
Sarri added: "We were able not to concede a goal at home, which is very important in this competition.
"So the result is OK now."
Hudson-Odoi has now scored four times this season but is still awaiting his first Premier League start.