Levi Colwill sends Mauricio Pochettino message over new Chelsea position amid Silva & Badiashile admission

Levi Colwill has made an admission over his new role at left-back for Chelsea this season under Mauricio Pochettino.

Back in July during Pochettino’s opening few weeks, following their 4-3 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in pre-season, the Chelsea head coach revealed Colwill had the potential to be ‘one of the greatest centre-backs in England’.

“His performance was good – better than what I expected because it is only the first game with us after the season with Brighton. I am so happy. He can be one of the greatest centre-backs in England.”

However, Colwill has since been playing at left-back in the back four for Chelsea this season, with Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva the favoured centre-back pairing since Badiashile’s return from injury.

Colwill has grown into the role in recent weeks and kept a clean sheet on Saturday afternoon during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

Reflecting on his new role, Colwill was in positive spirits. He told Chelsea TV “I’m still learning a new position, so each game I’m taking things away which I’m very happy with. It’ll help me in the future. I’ve just got to keep trying to help the team.”

With Badiashile and Silva alongside him in defence, the 20-year-old hopes he is helping the duo as much as they are helping him with his own personal development.

He added: “Yeah, definitely (learning lots playing alongside players like Thiago Silva). Even playing next to Badiashile, with them there they both help me so much.

“I’d like to say that I help just as much. Just talking, you pick new things up playing there. It means the world to me.”

Chelsea welcome Newcastle United, who they lost to 4-1 last month at St. James Park, in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night in west London. Colwill is seeking revenge on Eddie Howe’s side who were knocked out of Europe earlier this week.

Colwill concluded: “Definitely a big game. We have to come here to win, like always. Try to get payback sort of thing for what happened at their place. We are going to be ready and fired up for it.”