Billy Gilmour shared the conversation he had with Thomas Tuchel last season after the Chelsea manager gave him a run out in the team.
Speaking on the ProDirect YouTube channel, Gilmour explained what Tuchel told him following his mini-spell toward the tail end of 2020/21.
The Scotland international had to wait patiently for his second senior breakthrough, having been handed a few opportunities under Frank Lampard.
His minutes decreased as Lampard’s rein continued and then eventually ended in favour of Tuchel’s appointment.
In the previous campaign, he played just over half an hour of Premier League football until the Blues boss decided to launch him into action.
Gilmour started three consecutive league games in May against Fulham, Manchester City and Arsenal, performing admirably in each.
Other than an appearance in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Sheffield United, that would be the last time Chelsea fans would see their academy star in a blue shirt for a while.
The 20-year-old signed for Norwich City on a season-long loan, in an attempt to broaden his experience at the highest level.
Tuchel talks
Ahead of joining the Canaries, Tuchel delivered a kind message to Gilmour that evidently resonated with him.
“I never really played much at the start,” he said.
“I just kept working hard in training, proving to him that I’m ready, can count on me, trust me.
“Then I played a couple of games. I played Man City, Fulham then Arsenal and he came up to me and said ‘I trust you. You’ve been training well, you deserve it.’
“He’s really good at man-management.
“He comes up and speaks to you one on one, tells you what you can do better. He’s really on it.”
Installing faith in a player is always a massive bonus, especially for one who rarely gets a shot in the limelight.
It should also give Gilmour encouragement that there will be a place for him in Tuchel’s squad when his spell with Norwich is complete.
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