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Chelsea fans need to wait longer to see huge summer signing in action as Fabrizio Romano provides injury update

Mikel Arteta says he wants defender “respected by everybody” to stay at Arsenal amid Bayern links

Man United one of two clubs that could be dragged into the Premier League’s FFP mess

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Chelsea star fires warning believing Blues are capable of handing Tottenham first defeat of the season

Darren Looney — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 09:45:11 +0000

Tottenham have made a very impressive start to their 2023/24 Premier League campaign but one Chelsea star believes his side can hand Spurs their first defeat of the season.

Ange Postecoglou’s men are undefeated through 10 matches with their latest victory coming last Friday as the North London club beat city rivals Crystal Palace 2-1.

On Monday night, Tottenham have another London derby to contend with as Mauricio Pochettino returns to Spurs with his struggling Chelsea team. The Blues are currently sat 11th in the Premier League, 14 points behind Postecoglou’s newly-revived Spurs.

It will be a tall task for Chelsea to beat Tottenham but Levi Colwill believes they can do it.

Colwill believes Chelsea can beat Tottenham on Monday

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Colwill is confident Chelsea will raise their game against Tottenham and insists they can inflict a first Premier League defeat of the season on the leaders.

The defender said about the London derby via The Standard: “It’s a big game — a great one to play in because of the rivalry.

“Of course, they’ve got good players but, at the same time, so have we. We played well against the big teams like Arsenal and Liverpool. We have the same approach as any other game no matter whether they are top of the league or not.

“We can go there and try to win which we are capable of. It will be a hard game but we are capable of winning.”

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Chelsea team news: Madueke the surprise inclusion from Pochettino

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:05:38 +0000

Mauricio Pochettino has gone with the surprise selection of Noni Madueke as Chelsea take on Brentford in the west London derby.

It hasn’t been that long since the manager warned the player as to his conduct away from the pitch, with The Guardian (subscription required) noting that the player had been partying despite being injured.

His inclusion is therefore a reprieve and a chance to show everyone what he can do when fully fit.

Your Chelsea side today! ?@ParimatchUK | #CheBre pic.twitter.com/3wyD2kkmhJ

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 28, 2023

Robert Sanchez, despite his errors against Arsenal, gets a chance to redeem himself with Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella making up a strong back four.

Moises Caicedo, captain, Conor Gallagher and Madueke offer power and creativity from the midfield, whilst up front Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson will be tasked with scoring the goals to take the Blues, perhaps only temporarily, up to eighth position.

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Nov 24 2023, 13:23

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Nov 24 2023, 12:54

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Nov 24 2023, 12:19

In so doing, that would provide a real shot in the arm for Pochettino after what’s been a slow start to his Chelsea managerial career.

Now, however, the Stamford Bridge faithful can begin to see what he is trying to achieve and as long as Todd Boehly gives him the time to work and get his ideas across, there’s no reason why the Blues won’t be up there challenging by season’s end.

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England player ratings: Watkins scores winner, as Johnstone wonders keeps England in it

Connor Holden — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:01:11 +0000

England managed to beat Australia 1-0, after Ollie Watkins gave England the lead in the 57th minute.

In a game that lacked creativity in the final third, England still managed to conjure up a victory, making it two wins in a row, and remaining unbeaten since December 2022. England will now take on Italy in a EURO qualifying game, on Tuesday 17th October.

Read on for our England player ratings, and who stood out for the Three Lions…

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Sam Johnstone – 8 – Johnstone made an excellent save early in the game to keep England at 0-0, and managed to keep yet another clean sheet. Making four saves (three of which were inside the box), along with three high claims, Johnstone impressed.

Levi Colwill – 7.5 – Filling in at left-back for his England debut in the absence of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell, and he didn’t look at all out of place. Had 107 touches, making 78/92 accurate passes and getting involved in the build up for England. He also defended his channel really well, and was only dribbled past once.

Lewis Dunk – 8 – Dunk was the leader of this rather young back line, and put in another great performance for the Three Lions. Dunk made a clearance off of the line, as well as making three total clearances, one block and one interception, he also made 112/119 accurate passes, with a 94% completion rate.

Fikayo Tomori – 7 – Tomori did his job, making 52/52 accurate passes, and making four clearances. He was just slightly less in the game than the left sides defenders such as Dunk and Colwill, and wasn’t as noticeable, but he had a tidy performance not making any glaring mistakes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 – Trent looked to invert into midfield as he does for Liverpool, and did manage to play two key passes, offering his creative threat. He completed 5/10 long balls and completed two out of his three crosses.

Conor Gallagher – 5.5 – Gallagher had quiet game, apart from his yellow card which could have then turned red after another rash challenge not long after. Only had 32 touches and only made 18 accurate passes out of 24, the game just passed him by.

Jordan Henderson – 6 – Captained England against Australia, and you could hear him commanding his team on the pitch, he also got on the ball more than Gallagher, having 63 touches and making 52/56 passes. Just wasn’t very progressive in the middle.

James Maddison – 6 – Not his best game, but he did make one key pass and create one big chance. Playing slightly further forward in midfield as more of a number 10, he would have liked to create more and be more involved in the final third.

Jack Grealish – 6.5 – Grealish looked like the most creative England player against Australia, attacking his left channel when he could, making two key passes and creating one big chance. He also managed one shot on target.

Ollie Watkins – 7.5 – Unlucky to not score in the first half after rounding the keeper and hitting the post, but got his goal in the second half which turned out to be the winner. Was a willing runner in behind all game, and got his reward for being in the right place in the box.

Jarrod Bowen – 6 – Another attacker who is in fine form for their club, but didn’t produce his best today. Managed three shots (one on target), but apart from that he wasn’t massively involved and could have done more.

Subs: Marcus Rashford 4.5, Kieran Trippier 5, John Stones 5, Kalvin Phillips 6, Phil Foden 5, Eddie Nketiah 5.

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Chelsea player ratings: Goal-shy Blues struggle, as Frenchman’s dismissal sends game into spiral

Connor Holden — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:14:15 +0000

There was more misery for Chelsea this weekend as they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa, went down to 10 men, and have now gone three Premier League games without a goal.

Chelsea looked to be on top in the first half, and at the start of the second half. However a Malo Gusto sending off in the 58th minute tipped the game on its head, and Aston Villa managed to strike in the 73rd minute through Ollie Watkins, take take the 1-0 victory and three points.

Read on for our Chelsea player ratings as we look at what cost the Blues, and who can hold their head high…

Robert Sanchez – 7 – Sanchez was quality throughout the game, making 2/3 excellent saves. The only thing letting him down was a poor lapse of concentration for the Villa goal, after Levi Colwill blocked the initial attempt, Sanchez looked to switch off and the subsequent second attempt went through his legs.

Levi Colwill – 6 – Colwill was solid, and defended well especially in the first half. He helped Chelsea to continuously win the ball when Villa looked to break and therefore allowed the Blues to sustain pressure in the first half.

Thiago Silva – 5 – The experienced defender was some what liable for the Villa goal, losing the ball close to midfield and then not taking the tactical foul once losing the ball. Was good on the ball in build up but cost Chelsea when it mattered.

Axel Disasi – 6 – Had a goal disallowed in the first half, and was defensively strong. Also showed he can fill in at right back, once Malo Gusto was dismissed in the 58th minute.

Malo Gusto – 5 – Was having a good game up until the sending off, joining in attack with Sterling and finding himself in advanced crossing positions. Had defended well up to the sending off too, however rating is clearly low due to the dismissal and the repercussions of it.

Moises Caicedo – 6 – Caicedo had a quiet game, did his job protecting the defence and winning the ball back in the middle of the park. Once the game stretched and Chelsea were down to 10 men, more fouls started to creep in and there was a lot more being pushed through those central areas.

Conor Gallagher – 6.5 – Gallagher captained the side again, and was one of the better players for Chelsea again. Worked really hard in midfield, won his duels and had 1 key pass. Gallagher also won 3 tackles, made 2 interceptions and 1 clearance.

Enzo Fernandez – 5 – Fernandez looked frustrated early on, and struggled to fully get into the game. The red card meant his afternoon was cut short in the 68th minute, but it was not his best game for the Blues. Only playing 4 long balls and 0 key passes.

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Mykhaylo Mudryk – 5.5 – Mudryk again had a patchy game, having some nice runs at the Villa defence and putting a few good balls into the box. He nearly had a lovely assist for Jackson when he played a reverse pass into the on running Jackson, who had his effort saved by Martinez.

Raheem Sterling – 5 – Sterling found himself in some excellent positions, but made the wrong decisions. There was numerous occasions where he could have found a teammates in the box, or got a shot off but it took far too long and the attack petered out.

Nicolas Jackson – 5 – Jackson was booked again for dissent meaning he will miss Chelsea’s next game, and this is something Pochettino has said Jackson needs to avoid in future. He also had some decent chances to score but did not convert, and looked slightly rushed in those final phases, which needs to be calmed down.

Subs: Ben Chilwell 5, Cole Palmer 6, Lesley Ugochukwu 5, Armando Broja 4.

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Chelsea player ratings: Toothless attack costs Chelsea, whilst key man is frozen out of the game

Connor Holden — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:30:19 +0000

Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Bournemouth, missing out on three points for yet another week.

In a classic “bore draw” game between Bournemouth and Chelsea, there were chances for both sides to win the game, however particularly Chelsea who had 14 shots with 6 on target, and failing to score.

Read on for our Chelsea player ratings as we take a look at who didn’t perform for the Blues, and who did a job…

Robert Sanchez – 7.5 – Sanchez was one of the only positives in this game for Chelsea, as he made several big stops to keep them in the game, and he also commanded his area very well, collecting crosses for the Blues.

Levi Colwill – 6 – Colwill playing in this left back position as opposed to his familiar centre back spot, he was good for Chelsea in build up and kept the ball well, however not much came down his side defensively and he wasn’t overly tested in 1v1 wide areas. He also had a goal disallowed in the second half for offside.

Thiago Silva – 6 – Silva again was relatively untested, kept his position well and was getting on the ball more than his centre back partner Disasi for build up from the back. He played the most passes for Chelsea (79) and attempted the most (83).

Axel Disasi – 7 – Disasi was solid defensively and was being aggressive with the Bournemouth centre forward Solanke. He was playing touch tight to the forward and using his physicality to muscle him off the ball and win his duels. He also made 4 clearances, 4 blocked shots and 1 tackle, which was the most defensive actions made by a Chelsea player in the game.

Malo Gusto – 7 – Gusto provided good attacking threat overlapping on the right side, getting to the byline on numerous occasions and putting crosses into the box. These nearly resulted in goals for the Blues, and his persistence to join the attack with Sterling on the right side helped Chelsea create chances, but they just couldn’t turn them into goals.

Malo Gusto in action for Chelsea

Lesley Ugochukwu – 6.5 – Ugochukwu was solid in the middle of the park, making his first Premier League start since joining this summer in the absence of Moises Caicedo. He used his physical frame well to protect the defence at times, and was pivotal in build up to recycle the ball from left to right. He also made a few powerful runs from deep midfield to get Chelsea out and beat the initial press.

Enzo Fernandez – 5.5 – Fernandez struggled to get into this game, with Bournemouth man Lewis Cook given the job of denying Fernandez to get on the ball in advanced areas. He was limited to deeper touches and quicker passes, as opposed to his usual creative freedom where he dictates the game.

Conor Gallagher – 7 – Chelsea captain on the day, Gallagher was everywhere in midfield, and seemed to have more space to operate due to Bournemouth’s obsession to stop Fernandez. Gallagher worked hard in the middle, was offering an out ball for Chelsea (especially in the first half) and should have scored a goal after getting into a great area multiple times in the box.

Raheem Sterling – 5.5 – Sterling had a game where he found all the right areas, but couldn’t find the final ball. He had a few shots off target and made a few poor passes in the final third which slowed down or stopped an attack. He did hit the woodwork from a brilliant freekick, however it just wasn’t his day for the final touches.

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Mykhaylo Mudryk – 6.5 – Mudryk was positive throughout, wanting to get into dangerous areas and put balls into the box. On a few occasions, Mudryk got the beating of the fullback and found a good ball into the box but again the lack of ruthlessness for Chelsea hurt them, as they couldn’t finish any of these opportunities being created.

Nicolas Jackson – 4 – Not a great performance for Jackson, who has started relatively well for Chelsea since joining. Some poor touches in and around the 18 yard box, and a few poor shots in areas he could have done better, especially when he is the main man for the Blues upfront. Jackson did strike the post in the first half, but other than that, he didn’t come close.

Subs: Palmer 5, Chilwell 4, Maatsen 4.5.

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“Great player” – Pundit urges Southgate to give Chelsea star first England start

Andrew Walker — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:41:13 +0000

England have the perfect opportunity to ‘build for the future’ by playing Levi Colwill at centre-back.

That is the view of former Aston Villa and Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore, who thinks Gareth Southgate should award the highly-rated Chelsea defender with his first senior international cap in the Three Lions’ upcoming European Championship qualifier against the Ukraine on Saturday.

Looking to extend their lead at the top of Group C’s qualification table, England will be confident they can add to their 12-point tally at the expense of Serhiy Rebrov’s Ukraine.

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Although the Three Lions have been forced to contend with several injuries, including the withdrawals of Manchester City duo Jack Grealish and John Stones, Southgate’s options remain plentiful.

And even though the majority of the squad picks itself, including Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane starting upfront, following Stones’ withdrawal, there is now an opportunity at centre-back for a player, potentially an internationally inexperienced one, to take advantage of, and Collymore knows who he would like to see start.

“As for which player should partner Maguire at the back, although Stones has been ruled out through injury, Southgate still has several defenders to choose from,” Collymore said in an exclusive interview.

“Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori and Levi Colwill are all available for selection, and if it were up to me, I would start the latter.

“Colwill enjoyed an excellent season while out on loan with Brighton and Hove Albion last season and his talent and projected development was proven by Chelsea’s insistence on renewing his contract. He is a great player and at the age of just 20, why not start building for the future by embedding him now?”

Do you agree with Collymore? – Which player do you think should start alongside Maguire tomorrow night? – Let us know in the comments below.

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Collymore’s column: Jadon Sancho will never play for Man United again, why Newcastle shouldn’t worry and which player is England’s best number 10

Stan Collymore — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 10:39:44 +0000

In his exclusive column for CaughtOffside, former Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s biggest talking points, including Jadon Sancho’s uncertain future at Man United, Newcastle United’s tough Champions League group and which player should be England’s first-choice number 10, plus much more.

—————————————————————————

Jadon Sancho’s Man United career is over…

Obviously one of the biggest talking points this week has been Jadon Sancho’s public falling out with Erik Ten Hag. His decision to criticise, and effectively undermine, his manager on social media wouldn’t have gone down well at all. I just don’t see how he could ever come back from it. I actually believe the Red Devils will look to offload him, either on loan or permanently, at the next opportunity. The whole situation is very reminiscent of Romelu Lukaku’s second spell at Chelsea.

I know there are reports that he’s set for crunch talks with his manager and the coaching staff but I don’t think we’ll ever see Sancho play for United again.

An old interview he did while playing for Borussia Dortmund has resurfaced. In that interview, Sancho said something very similar about being made the club’s scapegoat so it seems to be a bit of a trend. It may be the truth; he could have just been really unlucky but almost every manager and coach will now be wary of him because he’s given himself this reputation of being a problematic player that, according to his current boss, isn’t the best trainer.

So it’s going to be difficult for him, and United, to find a club willing to take him; certainly in the Premier League anyway. I think European clubs are more likely to want him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich tried to bring him back to the Bundesliga but I feel Serie A would actually be the best destination for him at this stage. Working under Jose Mourinho at Roma might not be a bad idea but I don’t think he’ll have many takers in England.

Outcome of Antony investigation will determine winger’s Old Trafford future…

Another player causing a massive headache for Ten Hag is Antony. There have been multiple reports of an ongoing domestic abuse investigation against the Brazilian.

This is obviously a situation I can relate to. Back when I was involved in a domestic abuse incident that saw me hit out at Urika Johnson, I was at Aston Villa at the time, and I was immediately recalled to the squad. I wasn’t dropped by the club. But that was a very different time and that doesn’t happen anymore; as we’ve seen recently with Mason Greenwood, and rightly so, may I add.

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It is important to note that any allegations made against Antony at this stage are exactly that; they’re allegations. We do not know if the winger is innocent or guilty of the crimes he has been accused of.

However, once the ongoing investigation is concluded, if he is deemed to have done what he has been accused of, it is obvious Manchester United will cut ties with him. They wouldn’t even need to test the waters in terms of public response. Following what happened with Greenwood recently, when the club were deliberating over whether or not to reinstate him, the backlash confirmed what fans’ thoughts on the situation were, so there would be no hesitation over getting rid of Antony.

Newcastle could surprise a few in the Champions League…

I wasn’t overly popular with Newcastle fans when I said back in January that Eddie Howe could be sacked by November, so I am sure they’ll be pleased to hear how I have since changed my mind. I am no longer convinced the Magpies will be so quick to get rid of Howe.

I think the club will be looking at this season in the Champions League and be thinking ‘Well, we’re two years ahead of schedule, so let’s just enjoy it’. And don’t get me wrong, if anybody deserves the chance to manage in the Champions League, it’s Howe considering the remarkable work he did last season.

The interesting thing is, if the Magpies had held on to beat Liverpool 1-0 in Game Week 3, I don’t even think their season becomes a talking point. They have had a tough start; playing Manchester City and Liverpool in their first four games, and although they lost against Brighton last time out, they did thump Villa 5-1 on the opening day, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

They have some more favourable fixtures coming up, and although there are no easy games in the Premier League, Howe will be glad to see Brentford, Sheffield United and Burnley next up.

There is of course a huge Champions League group stage tie against AC Milan at the San Siro sandwiched in the middle of those fixtures though. I understand why some fans may be fearing the worst considering Newcastle have been drawn into the ‘group of death’ against AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, but I am feeling quite optimistic when it comes to their chances of qualifying. Make no mistake, Group F will not be an easy group to get out of, but I think they’ll stay competitive throughout. The Magpies have some really, really good players, who are going to be chomping at the bit to showcase what they can do on the biggest of stages, so be positive Toon fans, I really do fancy your chances.

So yes, I am happy to admit that I am turning my back on my earlier prediction. I believe the only way Howe gets dismissed this season is if the side totally bombs in Europe and their league form completely nosedives.

Levi Colwill and Phil Foden should start for England…

We’re on an international break so it’s only right to mention England. The Three Lions have two winnable European Championship qualifiers against Ukraine and Scotland coming up, and it’s going to be a chance for Gareth Southgate to play his best available side.

Although several positions are nailed-on, such as Harry Kane starting up top, two positions which you would assume are up for grabs is who will partner Harry Maguire at centre-back due to John Stones’ injury and which playmaker is best suited to the number 10 role.

We know Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice will be England’s preferred midfield pairing but with Eberechi Eze, James Maddison and Phil Foden all vying for what you would expect to be one other midfield spot, it’s going to be interesting to see which player gets the nod. Although Eze and Maddison have both been in excellent form recently, and both thoroughly deserve their call-ups, it’s a no-brainer for me; I would start Foden behind Kane. We know just how good he is; you don’t start over 20 Premier League games for Manchester City in both of the last two seasons if you’re average.

For England, we’ve mostly seen Foden played in a wide role, but with Bukayo Saka nailing down the right-wing spot and Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford the first-choice left-wingers, Foden absolutely must play in his preferred number 10 role.

As for which player should partner Maguire at the back, although Stones has been ruled out through injury, Southgate still has several defenders to choose from. Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori and Levi Colwill are all available for selection, and if it were up to me, I would start the latter.

Colwill enjoyed an excellent season while out on loan with Brighton and Hove Albion last season and his talent and projected development was proven by Chelsea’s insistence on renewing his contract. He is a great player and at the age of just 20, why not start building for the future by embedding him now?

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“Worth every pound” – Chelsea star convinced new signing will be “one of the best”

Mark Brus — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:41:37 +0000

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has made it clear that he rates Moises Caicedo very highly and thinks he’ll end up being worth every pound the club spent on him.

The pair were together at Brighton last season, with Colwill there on loan from Chelsea before returning to Stamford Bridge this summer, while Caicedo recently made the big move from the Seagulls to the Blues for £100m, as per BBC Sport‘s report at the time.

Chelsea fans will no doubt hope that both players can be as successful in west London as they were at Brighton, where they formed key parts of Roberto De Zerbi’s hugely impressive team.

So far, it’s not quite gone that way, with both players involved for Chelsea as they lost 3-1 to West Ham at the weekend, and it’s clear standards will need to be raised very soon.

Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill at Brighton last season

Still, Colwill has no doubts at all about Caicedo’s potential for Chelsea despite the pressure that comes with such a hefty transfer fee.

“I think anyone that watched him last season knows how good of a player he is,” Colwill told talkSPORT.

“In my opinion, he was worth every pound that was spent on him.

“I think he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and the world.

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“I don’t doubt that. Playing with him last season you just rely on him.

“Even when I know I have made a mistake, I have always known he is there to cover me in midfield.

“Some of the passes I gave to him were terrible and he still saved me and made me look good!

“Yeah, he is a very good player and him in this team alongside the other amazing players we have got, it is going to work well. Yeah, I am happy he is here.”

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Interview: Levi Colwill on living his boyhood dream, idolising Thiago Silva and targeting an England spot at EURO 2024

Ben Jacobs — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Levi Colwill is in for a career-defining season. He is not only expected to be Chelsea’s first-choice left-sided centre-back but has also been told by Gareth Southgate that regular game time will put him firmly in contention for a Euro 2024 place with England.

That’s why Colwill was so intent on speaking to Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino about his pathway at the club prior to penning a new six-year deal worth £100k-per-week.

Brighton – where Colwill spent last season on loan, helping them qualify for Europe for the first time in their history – were desperate to sign the talented 20-year-old, but Chelsea’s stance was always that he was not for sale.

“I don’t think it [extending at Chelsea] was ever a doubt really,” said Colwill, who won the Under-21 Euros with England this summer without conceding a goal. “Brighton had a great year last year and all respect to Roberto De Zerbi. He’s made me learn so much and improve as a player, but Chelsea was always my first option.

“Chelsea has been my club since my ninth birthday when I signed. Obviously, I love this club a lot. I want to win big things with this club. I just had to speak to the gaffer and see what happened from there.

“Like I said there was never a doubt. We had the conversation – more of a private sort of thing. I don’t want to out everything he said. It was just giving me a bit of confidence to say if you play well, you’ll have a chance with me and that’s all I wanted to hear.

“I always wanted to be at Chelsea, be a Chelsea player and hopefully become a Chelsea legend one day.”

Colwill hopes to become a Chelsea legend one day

If as expected Colwill starts the opening game against Liverpool – and in doing so makes his competitive Chelsea debut – it will be a special and surreal moment for him. He’ll likely line up next to one of his idols, Thiago Silva – a player he was starstruck by wandering the Cobham corridors just a few years ago.

“He is a joke,” laughed Colwill, speaking from Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Chicago. “Training with him, playing next to him, he’s just so relaxed. He knows everything that is going on. You can’t put into words how good he is.

“It would mean a lot to me [to start alongside him against Liverpool]. I remember when I was younger, I used to watch clips of him the day before a game. When he was at PSG, I just used to watch clips because he’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest and that’s what I used to be like before I grew a lot. Mentally, he’s steps above everyone. If 10-year-old Levi thought about playing with him, it would be amazing – the best feeling in the world.”

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Colwill will not only be living out his boyhood dream against Liverpool – a club both his parents support – but do so wearing the No.26 shirt, made famous by former Chelsea captain John Terry.

Colwill wore the same number during a successful loan spell with Huddersfield in 2021/22 leading many to brand him the ‘next’ Terry. Yet he actually picked 26 because his birthday falls on February 26.

“It’s not a bad thing to be called the new John Terry,” he told The Athletic in May last year. “I haven’t made the comparison myself so the fans and media can make whatever comparisons they want to make, it isn’t going to affect me.

“[My number is not] because of John. It’s because that’s the date of my birthday. It was my number when I was growing up, even if I was just playing a football game on PlayStation.”

Colwill does not mind being called the new John Terry

Colwill clocked PlayStation-like stats in the second half of last season after breaking into Brighton’s team over the festive period, earning five straight starts.

In his 17 Premier League appearances last campaign, Colwill made more forward passes per 90 minutes (30.5) than any other player and more passes into the final third (8.59) than any Chelsea centre-back. He also ranked sixth in the Premier League (75.02%) for completed passes, looking calm and incisive on the ball.

“It was an amazing year [at Brighton],” said Colwill, who was also tracked this summer by Liverpool. “I learnt so much as a player and a man. When I went there, Graham Potter was the manager and I [joined] pretty late into the start of the season.

“When De Zerbi came in, I wasn’t playing much. I had to adapt, keep my head and not just throw my toys out of the pram. It was tough for me every single day, but I can’t say anymore. I’m so happy for everything I went through. [During] ups and downs I’ve learnt so much as a person and a player and I’m just grateful for that opportunity.

“Southampton away last year on Boxing Day, that’s when I really got my chance under De Zerbi. I played alright and he liked what he saw. From there, it just went off. When you play that sort of football, you grow more confidence in yourself. Sometimes it might take a little bit longer and when it works you look amazing.

“De Zerbi definitely gives you confidence all the time. He’s always telling you how good a player you are. But when you step on that pitch you’re just like everyone else, no matter how good you are – he’s there to make you work. For that hour or two hours you are on the pitch you’re there to work and learn. He wants the best. He’s a perfectionist and I think that’s why Brighton did so well last season.”

Levi Colwill enjoyed his time at Brighton & Hove Albion last season

One thing that’s striking about Colwill is how level-headed he is despite a rapid rise to stardom. He clearly has grand goals, but his feet remain firmly grounded. His mentality is simply to keep improving, something he gets from his parents.Nine years ago 11-year-old Colwill was a Wembley mascot, walking out with his uncle-footballers Byron and Barry Mason as their non-league Sholing side beat West Aukland Town to win the FA Vase Trophy. Now he’s ready to lead out some spellbound mascots of his own and ultimately help Chelsea win trophies.

“I remember standing in the tunnel. I was a bit nervous myself and I stood looking mesmerised at Wembley,” revealed Colwill. “I never thought I would play there and then I got to the [2022] Playoff Final with Huddersfield. I remember walking out with my uncles there thinking how times have changed. They are watching me now. It didn’t feel real, and it was a bit emotional to be honest.

“My family is football crazy, so growing up I didn’t have another choice. Football is what you do as a little boy. I think I was five when my dad took me to go and play football and I fell in love with it. Every day that’s what I wanted to do.

“My dad never complained once. He would always take me out. It was a good way for me and him to bond. We loved it. With my uncles, I would always go to their games at any chance. It’s even like that now… [and] them, my dad and my family are at every single one of my games.

“One of my dad’s biggest things he tells me is never give up and no one can doubt you. I go anywhere I can and try to be confident in myself and think, ‘If you don’t like me, I don’t really care’. I am here to work hard and improve and learn as a player.”

Colwill in action during the 2022 Championship play-off final

Colwill has had his fair share of challenges, though. He spent six weeks out after picking up a muscle injury in January and had a frustrating knee issue at Huddersfield. Plus, back-to-back seasons on loan is never easy having to get used to a new manager, dressing room and culture. But the likeable defender has taken everything in his stride.

“[My mentality] always gets tested,” said Colwill. “You just have to dig in and keep going. That’s how you improve. Everywhere I have gone it’s been tested. At Huddersfield when I first went in, I don’t think I was a starter and then the injury happened, and then I got a chance. It got tested there. And then more injuries. And obviously, Brighton, going there and not starting and having to push in [to the side]. It always happens. It’s just football. The best players go through it all the time. It’s just how you come out the other side.

“I played in the Premier League last season, so I trust myself. I know that I can do it. I played against some of the best players and played well sometimes. Sometimes I played rubbish, it happens! You live and you learn. But I came into [pre-season] and thought why can’t I put my stamp on it.

“[The aim now] is to win trophies really. If we can win everything that gets put out in front of us hopefully one day I can become a legend. But not just once, keep doing it in multiple seasons.”

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