Chelsea defender David Luiz has spoken highly of the youngsters in the squad and challenged them to prove their worth this coming season.
As is often the case in pre-season, Chelsea’s younger players have been given a real opportunity to show what they can do in our opening two fixtures in Ireland. Several, notably Billy Gilmour and Mason Mount, have impressed.
It would have been easy for them to appear out of their depth, especially those without considerable senior experience, but adapting to life as a Chelsea first-team player has been seemingly effortless for several of the younger names.
One man who has been impressed with what he’s seen is David Luiz, who himself had plenty of people to convince when he arrived at Chelsea in the winter of 2011. He’s quoted by Goal waxing lyrical about our younger players, as well as setting them a challenge:
“Every single one, they have the quality already to play for this club. I have to do my role as a senior player just trying to help them and also to do my job. Of course it is a big step up and it’s up to everyone to do their job.”
“I think when you’re young you have to think about you opening the door – not the door opening for you. The young players have to work in this mentality. Because life is not easy.”
“Every day another boy is born and another boy wants to be a footballer. And it’s up to everybody to work hard and for them to knock on the door and open the door the have the talent for that they have the potential for that, they just have to show that every single day.”
Only time will tell if they are made of stern enough stuff to sustain what lies ahead for them. With players like Luiz in the dressing room alongside them, we have a feeling that they’re going to do just fine.
