Bakayoko reveals he joined Chelsea because of one man
Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea - London, Britain - August 20, 2017 Tottenham's Eric Dier in action with Chelsea's Tiemoue Bakayoko REUTERS/Dylan Martinez EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has told French newspaper L’Equipe that the main reason he decided to join the club this summer was to work with manager Antonio Conte.
The 23 year old says he has huge respect for the Italian, and is keen to develop his game under the Blues boss both tactically and mentally:
“I wanted to work with him and I am convinced that he will make me progress and reach my goals, both personally and collectively. If we speak about a coach and not the club, the choice is logical.It will make me progress on the tactical, technical and mental levels.
“I’m shouting at training every day, I have to be as precise as possible in everything I do. I know why I signed and what the coach wants to do with me, I do not worry about that. Only if I disconnect and do not work [hard] I will not play.”
Bakayoko has had no preseason due to a knee injury but the manager’s trust in the player was demonstrated when the midfielder was thrust in at the deep end against Tottenham last weekend at Wembley.
The Frenchman played the full 90 minutes despite his lack of match practice, and earned praise from onlookers for his energy, physicality and powerful forward runs. The £40million signing from Monaco will no doubt take some time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, as the player himself has already admitted, but the early signs are certainly promising for the central midfielder.