Josh Acheampong reflects on his progress through the ranks, from nine-year-old Academy prospect to first-team player and now UEFA Champions League competitor, in an exclusive interview for tonight’s matchday programme.
The 19-year-old has been in the thick of the action since Liam Rosenior’s arrival, and his versatility has impressed the new head coach, who he reveals has spoken to him about his ability to play across the back line for the Blues.
'He said that he thinks I have the profile to do both,' the defender explains. 'So if I have to play inverted full-back, centre-back, right-back or wide, he said that I can do it.
'I think when you’re playing inverted, you’ve got to be more wary. Obviously there’s a lot of bodies in the middle of the pitch so sometimes you might not be able to take as many touches and it’s quite congested. When I’m on the right, there’s a bit more freedom, a lot more one-v-one situations, and opportunities to get crosses and shots away, which I think I can definitely get better at.
'So I think it’s just about learning from others, and obviously I’ve got Reece, I’ve got Trevoh, and plenty of others I can learn from as well. They’ve been through the same journey as me and they’re ahead of me in their journey. So if I need advice, I can speak to them and they’ll help me out.'
This will be our 100th Champions League match at Stamford Bridge (excluding qualifiers), so we’ve got a special feature looking back at the greatest nights we’ve experienced in this competition here in SW6, from that first visit by AC Milan, to the series of epic encounters with Barcelona and Liverpool, and many other legendary occasions.
As we prepare to take on Cypriot champions Pafos, you can also hear from Alexis Nicolas, the former Chelsea and Cyprus Under-21s midfielder, who reflects on his time at Stamford Bridge in the early 2000s, and reveals how a career change gave him a fresh perspective on life.
Pafos’ squad includes former Blues favourite David Luiz, and we take a look at the many Brazilians to have made an impact for Chelsea in the Champions League in the latest instalment of Over Land & Sea.
Then there’s all the info you need ahead of this penultimate league phase matchday and the latest columns from key figures around the club.
Be sure to pick up your copy from the programme sellers around Stamford Bridge or order online from our publications partner, Reach Sport.