Lesley Ugochukwu might just be 19 years of age, however, the youngster has already made a name for himself at Ligue 1 side Rennes.
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Chelsea have undoubtedly been one of the busiest teams in the recently-concluded transfer window. There have been plenty of incomings and outgoings happening at the Stamford Bridge. It is a the me which the club’s supporters have been used to in the recent past. There have been quite a few big-name signings which the Blues have made in this window. Among the new signings, one player that stood out was promising young talent Lesley Ugochukwu.
Lesley Ugochukwu might just be 19 years of age, however, the youngster has already made a name for himself at Ligue 1 side Rennes. Seeing his promising performances at such a young age, Chelsea were after him for his signature and he chose to join them. Explaining the reason behind moving to the Premier League outfit, Ugochukwu, quoted by the club’s website, said, “Just look at all the trophies they’ve won and the legends that have passed through.”
He added: “I was attracted by what they wanted to do and what they saw in me. They say I can become a great midfielder, if I put in the work and everything goes well. It’s up to me to prove that I can have my place in the long term. I wanted to take this step. When a club of this stature comes in for you, it’s very difficult to refuse.”
The competition for places is massive at Chelsea, particularly in midfield. They have players like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia in there hence it will be difficult for Ugochukwu to get ahead of them in the starting XI. However, the youngster is up for the challenge. “In any team, you are not sure you will play. When I arrived at Chelsea, I knew where I was going. It’s up to you to prove yourself, to show that you deserve your place. Personally, I have never been afraid of competition,” he stated.
“I have been learning with very good players like Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who is the same age as me. It’s up to me to go and get the most minutes. What I am learning at Chelsea, on a daily basis and during games, will allow me to strengthen myself and mature in my game. When you are young, you have to play, of course, but I feel ready to fight for earn my place.”
Ugochukwu is confident in his abilities and believes that he has what it needs to do well at Chelsea. “I have great confidence in myself, in my qualities, in what I can do. I know that if I do things correctly, everything will go as planned. I have the trust of the club, of the staff, that’s what pushed me to say to myself: Go for it! If they came for you, it’s because you have the qualities’,” he elaborated.
The young midfielder also spoke about his experience of playing in the Premier League this season. “Playing in the Premier League is a childhood dream, especially at Chelsea which is one of the biggest clubs in England and also in the world. Here, whether you play at home or away, people are singing everywhere. You can miss a pass, but if you recover the ball or make a tackle, there will be shouts from all directions. The atmosphere in the stadiums is incredible, the fans support you, they transcend you. It’s the Premier League!” he added.
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