Sport
Colwill’s England U21 performances prove why Pochettino wants to keep him
Moments after England clinched victory in the U21 European Championship final against Spain, Noni Madueke broadcast live to his Instagram followers alongside Levi Colwill. Amongst the celebrations, Madueke told Chelsea fans he would “make sure” Colwill returns to Stamford Bridge this summer to play for the Blues next season.
There has been strong interest in the central defender this summer. Brighton have made at least one offer to sign Colwill on a permanent basis after the youngster spent a successful year on loan at the Amex Stadium last season. So far, though, Chelsea have refused to entertain the idea of a sale, certainly not to another Premier League club.
Colwill was a key part of the England team that went all the way at the U21 Euros and his performances at the tournament highlighted why he could become a key figure for Chelsea sooner rather than later. Mauricio Pochettino needs a ball-playing centre back and Colwill could fit the bill for the Argentine coach.
Not only this, Pochettino proved at Tottenham Hotspur that he can harness young players and give them a platform to reach the next level. Pochettino likes to use youth to give his teams energy and exuberance and Colwill is part of a youthful core at Stamford Bridge that could provide a foundation for the next generation.
It’s likely Colwill will seek assurances on the game time he will receive at Chelsea before making a decision on his immediate future. A return to Brighton would surely appeal on some level with the 20-year-old citing Roberto De Zerbi as a factor in his recent improvement. Colwill would be at home on the south coast.
“Training with him is very tough, but it’s what you need. He’s helped me improve so much this season you wouldn’t understand,” Colwill said when asked about the influence of De Zerbi. “He’s also helped me grow and realise what it takes to become the best. It’s just perfection. I think all the people who are destined to be at the top level are like that.
“During games you hear him on the side and he’ll be giving you information all the time. That’s the sort of person he is, he just wants to help you progress as a player. He sees the potential in me and during this season he was very tough with me, but I can’t complain.”
The next few years will be crucial for Colwill and his development. His potential has been clear for some time and came to the fore as England lifted the U21 European Championship trophy, but now is the time for him to become a first team figure for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
Chelsea will be a work-in-progress in their first season under Pochettino. The Argentine has been appointed to give the Blues a new identity and it will take some time for him to remould the squad he has inherited in the way he wants. Colwill, however, can give Chelsea something they need in terms of the balance of their backline.
Pochettino has already started clearing the decks at Stamford Bridge with Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy and Mateo Kovacic gone with others including Christian Pulisic expect to join this group in departing the club. Colwill, however, is someone the new Chelsea boss clearly wants to keep.
As a club, Chelsea know a good centre back when they see one. John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Thiago Silva and others of a similar calibre have all played in the blue shirt and Colwill could be the next defensive figure to make himself a key part of the Blues team. He has everything Pochettino needs.
