Kalidou Koulibaly thinks that he’s still got time on his side to show Chelsea just how good he can be.
The Blues paid Napoli £33million last summer to sign Koulibaly, who’s endured a challenging debut season at Stamford Bridge.
He’s been recognised as one of the world’s top centre-backs in recent years, but the step into the Premier League has been difficult.
The 31-year-old has been in and out of the starting line-up at times this campaign. In fairness, his form hasn’t merited being a nailed-on starter.
However, the £150,000-a-week defender has come out with some interesting comments this week to defend himself.
Kalidou Koulibaly quotes
The Senegal international certainly seems to suggest the best is yet to come from him in Chelsea colours:
“It’s not a difficult season but I need time to adapt and I knew that. When I decided to come here I was well aware that it wouldn’t be easy,” Koulibaly told The Sun.
“I have a three-year contract and I am calm. I have time to show everybody who I am.”
Koulibaly has looked much more like the Napoli version of himself in the past two games,
It looks like he’s timed his renaissance at the correct time due to Thiago Silva’s injury, with Potter confirming the centre-half could miss the next six weeks with a knee problem.
In our view, Koulibaly is the man to step into the leadership role in the Blues defence.
He’s shown time and time in his career what a quality operator he can be, so now is the time to replicate that in west London.
It’s certainly encouraging to hear the player talk with a bit of fight and passion on his own form.
If Koulibaly does fully regain his touch, he could still change people’s opinion on his £33million price tag.
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