Chelsea legend John Terry has named the rising defensive prospect that he sees his youthful self in, praising the home-grown participant’s angle as a lot as his expertise.
Terry has labored as a coach at Chelsea over two spells for a lot of the final three years, taking over an academy function in 2023. He has subsequently been nicely positioned to see the outcomes of the Cobham manufacturing line and centre-back Alfie Gilchrist is one which notably stands out.
Gilchrist turns 21 on the finish of this month and is at present on mortgage with Sheffield United, having made 17 first-team appearances for Chelsea final season. He has primarily performed at right-back for each the Blades and the Blues to date in his senior profession, however his pure place is within the centre.
“Actually from the primary coaching session by which I noticed him, he jogged my memory of myself. He was eager to be taught, asking me questions on defending and continuously selecting my brains over what I’d do in several conditions,” Terry informed the Each day Mail of Gilchrist.
“He is 100% in every thing he does. Whether or not that is the warm-up to get him going, he is all-in. You do not ever need to take that away. Even on his restoration days, he is 100mph.
“As he will get older, he’ll perceive how one can handle that and how one can be. However it’s an incredible trait to have for a younger participant and it could actually definitely set you aside. If you happen to’re at Chelsea, you’ve got obtained nice skill within the first place to be there. However it’s actually vital for youthful gamers to have that mentality and Alfie had that in abundance even from an early age.”
Gilchrist himself admitted it was “surreal” to have such a detailed bond with Terry.
“It was bizarre the primary few instances, yeah, surreal, however you get used to it,” he stated. “You may have a connection, a relationship, you’ll be able to converse brazenly. He is good for me. He had the highest profession and did it for a very long time.”
Though round 15 years handed between Terry changing into a Chelsea first-teamer and the following academy product to cement a everlasting place, the Blues have had a gentle stream of home-grown gamers efficiently attain the senior squad in recent times – together with Levi Colwill, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Mason Mount stretching again to 2019.
“You may see there is a pathway for the academy gamers as a result of they’re doing it now,” Gilchrist mirrored. “You may identify off the gamers which have come out of Chelsea’s academy – not simply taking part in for Chelsea, however elsewhere as nicely. Everybody is aware of what an excellent place it’s there.”
