“That’s where I want to be” – Brilliant academy starlet on how Enzo Maresca’s decision has helped him | OneFootball

While Chelsea’s senior team got a big win against Tottenham this midweek and now face a vital follow up against Brentford tomorrow, the Under-21s have had a similar double header, with a Premier League Cup quarter-final against Burnley to play on Monday night.

The captain of that team is Ishe Samuels-Smith, a really talented up and coming left back. As well as captaining that youth side, he’s regularly trained with the senior team, and has some matchday squad appearances too.

We thought he would get a Conference League nod at some point this season – but it looks like next season when we will finally see him make a step up, likely in the Carabao Cup.

Talented youngster learning lessons from training with the big boys

Ishe Samuels-Smith in warmups. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)

“This season has been a massive learning curve. Training with the men’s team and being part of the matchday squad has been huge for me personally. Those experiences are invaluable. They’ve shown me the level of intensity and quality required to perform consistently at the highest level,” Samuels-Smith explained in an interview on the club’s official website when asked about his progress and his hopes of making an impact on Enzo Maresca’s first team.

It’s a nice reminder of how much a player can benefit just from those training sessions. We’re all keen to see him play – but he can still learn almost as much just from sessions with the senior team.

“It’s motivating as it pushes me to raise my game. Ultimately, that’s where I want to be, challenging myself every week at that level. The most valuable part is bringing those lessons back to the Under-21s.

“Training with the men’s team gives us a benchmark. It’s made me and the rest of the boys who’ve had similar experiences approach our Academy matches with a higher intensity. That makes it much harder for our opponents to cope with us.”