“That’s what helped me so much” – Chelsea player names one thing that academy does to produce so many stars | OneFootball

Levi Colwill has been speaking to Sky Sports this week, looking forward to a match on Sunday against Aston Villa.

We’re sure we will get the full interview released later in the week, but the most interesting part we’ve seen so far deals with Colwill’s rise through the academy, and the mentality which has helped him make it to the very top at just 21.

He spoke about how the coaches at Cobham get their players fighting to be the best.

You can see the defender speaking in the clip embedded here:

Levi Colwill playing in the Chelsea academy.

Colwill on how Blues breed the best

“The main things that helped me achieve so much in the academy was the best players were always coming in to take your spot. No matter who you are, there’s going to be a new player coming in. And might be older than you, younger than you, your age, but he’s coming to play,” Colwill explained of the competitive atmosphere in the academy.

“In yourself you’ve got to have your fight in you to say ‘this is my spot.’ I think that’s what helped me so much. I was never able to rest because I’ve always had 2 or 3 players who want to play, just like me. So sometimes I was in a position where I might not have been playing, and they give you that chance to work hard and prove yourself to get back in the team,” he continued.

“I think my academy career was not easy. I was never the best player, but I always had to fight, and I think that’s what made me the player I am today, and the person. Because I never give up. I can’t give up.”

What an inspiring story – he’s now a starter for his boyhood club in central defence at 21, with 52 appearances since he made his debut back in 2022.