Youngster admits experience was “eye-opening” – but it’s something Maresca must repeat | OneFootball

Sam Rak-Sakyi isn’t just the most fun name in football right now – he’s also one of the brightest prospects in the academy.

His progress in the Under-21s has been excellent, so much so that first team manager Enzo Maresca called him up for our midweek trip to Greece last week to play Panathinaikos.

In an interview on the Chelsea website, the youngster glowed about how much it had meant to him just to be around the senior players:

“Going to Greece with the men’s team was a really good experience. It was different from what I’m used to. Being part of the match squad and seeing how the men’s team players prepare was eye-opening. The players were very welcoming, so it was easy to fit in,” the excellent young talent explained.

“My family was incredibly proud when they found out I was travelling with the men’s team. They know how hard I’ve worked for this and they’ve been there every step of the way. It was an amazing experience that I hope will continue.”

Sam Rak-Sakyi playing for Chelsea’s U21 team.

Young talent like Rak-Sakyi need chances – use them or lose them

It really sounds like Sam means it, and it’s a reminder to Maresca and to all those senior figures on the sporting side at Chelsea of how much being named in the squad (and then hopefully at some point getting some minutes) means to these players.

There’s a gradual leakage of top talent from the academy because of the host of new signings brought in over the last two years to the first team, who are blocking the potential progress of Cobham produced youth. It’s vital that trickle doesn’t become a flood, and giving players even just a token few minutes here and there will help huge on that front.