Kurt Zouma made his first Premier League start against Newcastle United last weekend and the youngster was very impressive. He made this debut alongside John Terry and despite the 14 year difference in age, the pair looked like they had been playing together for years. Zouma spoke to BT Sport after the match and he explained how much help he was receiving from the former England captain.
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Zouma spoke about the match and said, “the manager said to me well done, but I have to continue because I have only played one game, but I have continue and if gives me a chance I have to continue to improve”. It was only one game but the youngster is putting together a nice body of work with his starts in the League Cup, Champions League, and relief appearances for an injured Gary Cahill.
As for the help he is receiving from Terry, Zouma said “I learn from John how to defend because it is not the same. He pushes me and says ‘go, go go’ – and I have to go. Yes he does the same in training every day. When we are on the pitch we have to work because when you train it is the same as when you play. He (Terry) helps me a lot, when the striker goes behind me, or when the striker drops back I have to follow, to keep depth, so helps me a lot. Gary Cahill is the same.”
Not every young defender is lucky enough to be learning from two accomplished centerbacks in the prime, or very much extended prime in Terry’s case, of their career. Terry has been Chelsea’s captain for over 10 years now and has lead the Blues in their golden age. He is consistently voted in to world football teams of the year and is considered the best centerback in the history of the Premier League. Off-field issues aside, John Terry is a legend through and through and he is doing for Zouma what Marcel Desailly did for him.
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Cahill may not be quite as accomplished as Terry but he is a full England international and was a key member of the Chelsea team that finally won the Champions League. The irony here is that Zouma may in fact be replacing Gary Cahill in the lineup if he continues to play at such a high level. Chelsea fans are calling for the Frenchman to replace him because he has seen a drop in form and was exposed by Harry Kane in both matches against Tottenham Hotspur. We all knew that Cahill had his limitations as a player and it appears that Kurt Zouma’s only limitations right now are his youth and lack of experience.
Zouma possesses all the traits necessary for a Premier League defender and he also has a sneaky athleticism for a player that big. His size is usually the first thing that is commented on and he has shown a knack for winning headers on set pieces and scoring goals from them. Many of us thought Gary Cahill would be the replacement for John Terry but it looks like Zouma will be taking that from him as well.
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