Colwill aims dig at ex-Chelsea boss Pochettino

Cameron Smith

• 13 Oct 2024 19:00 BST
• 3 min read

Levi Colwill has aimed a slight dig at former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino after being forced to play at left-back for the vast majority of last season.

Colwill, 21, returned from a hugely successful loan stint at Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, but 17 of his 20 Premier League starts in 2023-24 came in an unfamiliar left-back role.

Pochettino often preferred Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi in the centre of defence, with Colwill shifted out to left-back in a bid to help Chelsea’s defensive solidity.

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However, the England international has now admitted that he didn’t feel comfortable out wide.

During an interview alongside Chelsea team-mate Noni Madueke, Colwill said: “Obviously last year I played in a position that isn’t really mine and I struggled at times, but this year I feel much more confident and I can make passes to Noni and show my passing range a lot more.”

Colwill’s passing accuracy has increased from 83.4% to 91.2% following his position change under Enzo Maresca this season, while he is also averaging 24 more passes per 90 minutes.

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The Englishman has played every available minute in the Premier League so far this season and he has formed a reliable partnership with Wesley Fofana at the heart of Chelsea’s backline.

“I think we work very well together because we balance each other out,” Colwill said when questioned about his relationship with Fofana.

What has Noni Madueke said?

When asked how well Colwill has performed so far this season, Madueke replied: “Yeah, very well to be honest playing at centre-back. [It’s a] great position for him, even though he’s actually good at left-back as well, he just doesn’t like it.

“[Colwill] is the control and Wes [Fofana] is the aggressor so I think it is perfect. It’s a great balance.”