Lewis Baker: I’ll Return To Chelsea FC As A Better Player
Blues loanee Lewis Baker has discussed his time at Vitesse Arnhem.
Chelsea FC youngster Lewis Baker has spent this campaign on loan at Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem. With a England U21 debut looming, the midfielder sat down with the FA website to discuss his spell abroad.
Next: Chelsea FC Have Diego Simeone Contingency Plan
The move to Vitesse represents Baker’s third loan deal since joining Chelsea as a nine-year-old. This is his first spell outside of the United Kingdom but he is relishing the opportunity.
"The Eredivisie is a top league and it’s a good learning place for me, on the pitch and off the pitch, seeing different cultures and the way players live with the different playing styles. It can all help you as a professional and add little bits to your game."
It is fair to say that Baker has adapted to challenge seamlessly. The midfielder has started all eight of Vitesse’s Eredivisie games and has scored two goals in this time. While this is a consequence of his role as the spot-kick taker, his WhoScored.com average match rating of 7.36 leaves him in the top 25 players in the Dutch top flight.
As one of the club’s brightest prospects, it is comforting to see Baker excel abroad. The European experience is exactly what many young English players are lacking and Chelsea’s agreement with Vitesse provides the youngsters an opportunity to add more dimensions to their game.
Baker evidently understands this and is looking forward to showing the Blues management that he is ready for Premier League football when he returns at the end of the season.
"I’ve already learned a lot in the first few months and hopefully that can increase and next season, I’ll return to Chelsea as a better player."
With the current Chelsea squad struggling for any sort of form, it is great that a Blues-contracted player somewhere is impressing.
More from Chelsea FC Loan Watch
- Chelsea: The €30m January signing who will highly excel with Pochettino’s appointment
- Chelsea loan Army: How Ian Maatsen has got on at Burnley
- What’s next for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher as asking price revealed?
- The next man up for Chelsea: Left back Ian Maatsen
- The next man up for Chelsea: Center forward Mason Burstow
The same can be said about fellow youngsters Izzy Brown, Nathan and Dominic Solanke, who are all alongside Baker in Holland. The quartet have contributed significantly to Vitesse’s 2015/16 efforts as they find themselves in sixth place with 14 points. This start leaves the club in a good position to push for European qualification as well.
For the time-being, Baker will be fully focused on impressing U21 manager Gareth Southgate as he seeks his debut. Having represented his country at numerous youth levels, the midfielder will be hoping to make an impact at this age group.
Once that’s done, then he can think about the senior team.
Next: Chelsea FC: Eden Hazard Discusses Benching, Poor Form