Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu has confidently explained he’s comfortable playing in three different positions next season.
Ampadu, 21, is an exciting Blues youngster that’s training with the first-team squad in the United States during pre-season.
The Wales international impressed during his loan last year with Italian club Venezia, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can force his way into the plans of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel during this next campaign.
Ampadu comfortable in three positions
Chelsea’s rising talent has gone on record to explain he’s desperate to play at Stamford Bridge next season, adding he would be happy slotting into different roles.
He’s mentioned his capability to play centre-back, midfield or right wing-back.
In fairness, Ampadu has already shown during his brief career he can do a job in each of the aforementioned positions.
“Everybody just wants to be on the pitch and thankfully I feel comfortable playing in more than one position. Hopefully I can get onto the pitch this season for Chelsea and help out the side. Wherever Thomas needs me, I’d be happy to play there. I’m more than comfortable playing, whether that’s at centre-back, in midfield or at right wing-back,”Ampadu said.
Best position
There’s still plenty of time for 21-year-old Ampadu to develop his game, but a safe bet now would be to predict he ends up as a centre-back in a back three. He does look very comfortable in that defensive midfield role right now, too.
One comparison could be in the way Tottenham’s Eric Dier, now 28, transitioned from a midfielder into a centre-back during his career.
The flexibility and willingness to play different roles is one that should definitely help Ampadu nail down a spot in the Chelsea squad next season.
Pat Nevin claimed a couple of months ago Ampadu’s got the potential to make a proper first-team breakthrough in the new campaign.
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