Why Ethan Ampadu deserves to be considered for Chelsea’s starting spot
According to Sky Sports, young Welsh prodigy Ethan Ampadu has vowed to impress new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri and break into the first-team starting line-up. The youngster, who will soon turn 18, suggested he is ready to take up the central midfield role at Stamford Bridge after reveling in that position for Wales in their thumping 4-1 win over Republic of Ireland.
Ampadu was bought for a mere fee of £1.3m from Exeter City last summer and was handed a few games by former manager Antonio Conte.
Speaking about his chances of playing for the club, Ampadu stated his frustration at not being able to break into the first-team, but he is happy to gain the experience of training with very good players. He also commented about further improving his game so that the manager gets impressed. (Sky Sports)
Here’s why Sarri should give the 18-year-old the amount of chances he deserves in the first-team this season:
A versatile player
The slightly surprising thing watching the Wales vs Republic of Ireland game was Ampadu playing in central midfield. He was used as a defender by Conte last season, a position in which the 18-year-old did well enough to earn the plaudits.
However, the level of performance he delivered playing in midfield this week was just phenomenal. The way he was involved in the game in all phases impressed everybody. Ampadu was good on the ball, taking people on and picking out incisive passes. Off the ball, he has a default sense of how to cover the ground for defending certain spaces.
A manager like Ryan Giggs, who was a legendary player in his time, would have been impressed by the performance of this 18-year-old. This is a big deal for a player who is about to start his mainstream career in senior football. His versatility will make him a useful player for the future.
Read More: Keep him Sarri – Chelsea must keep hold of their £18m game-changer beyond next summer
Verdict
Chelsea have had the history of loaning young players out but with Ampadu, the case is different. The Welshman seems an adamant individual who seems ready to win his spot at Stamford Bridge and work very hard for it.
And by the evidence of what we saw this week, Sarri may have to think about handing him a few opportunities more often than not.