FLORIDA CUP: CHELSEA FC VS. CLUB AMéRICA

July 15, 2022

Trevor Chalobah

Allegiant Stadium

Chelsea FC

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, everyone, to the press conference with Trevor Chalobah.

We'll take questions.

Q. Trevor, it's been a turbulent few months on the defensive side given the number of players that have left the squad. What has the manager said to you about your role now ahead of this coming season?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Well, for now we're just focusing on pre-season training, getting to it, obviously playing in the game. That's the main focus right now. I haven't spoken to the manager personally yet.

Miami is just a DI, pre-season, obviously how I started last season as well in that pre-season. It's starting strong again.

Q. You've spoken previously about Antonio Rudiger being a bit of a mentor for you. Obviously now he's gone. Do you personally take the opportunities, an opportunity for you now to step out of the shadow and build on what you have achieved?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Yeah, as a young player, it's good to look up to players like him. Antonio, as I said, he's been the one that's helped me this season.

Yeah, now that he's gone, for young players, it's important for me to now step up. Obviously playing last season, had my first debut season. From there I just need to learn and step on again.

Q. Trevor, I wanted to ask you, you made your name in this pre-season last year, got your shot at Chelsea. A lot of other boys will want to do the same as well who are on loan. What is your advice to those players who want to emulate you and get in this squad?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: For me, I just think you need to impress, just be ready, and that's what I done last season. I want to do the same. So for players coming back from learning, same thing: just give it your all, you never know what can happen.

Q. Do you think the manager looks at everyone as equals and gives you that chance?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Sees us all the same. Everyone is on the same path, same level at the moment. Whoever wants it more, whoever wants to impress, take it from there.

Q. With the arrival of Raheem at the club, for you individually and for players, what does the importance of his mindset and experience bring to the team? Is there a renewed sense of excitement of what you can achieve and having someone who has achieved so much in his career joining the team?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Yeah, I think it brings a lot to the team. Raheem coming in, you know how much of a big player he is, won a lot, scored a lot of goals. To get that type of player to join our squad to then help us obviously win games, win trophies for us, it's going to be massive for us and more excited.

Q. Mentally as well?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Well, yeah, think how many games he's played. You want to play as many games as he did, as well. We need to follow that footsteps as young players, getting as many games as possible.

Q. Do you think Chelsea is favorite for tomorrow's match?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Say that again.

Q. Chelsea, it's favorite for tomorrow's match?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Well, we just going into the game wanting to win every game. That's Chelsea. We want to win every game that's possible.

Q. Reflecting back on the lessons you kind of learned from last season, someone on loan, then making your way into the first team, what are the differences, the challenges that you experienced in your first season as a senior player?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Obviously being there my first season in the Premier League I think it's all about consistency, stay at the top. To play for a big club like this, you have to be 100% every day, whether that's training, starting in training, goes to games. I think that's what I learnt last season. That's what I want to try to prove this year.

Q. Was there also a case of the highs and lows that come with it?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Well, that's the reality. Obviously every player wants to do best every single game. I had my injury, had a bit of a dip. But that's football. It being my first season, I've learnt a lot.

Football, it's never highs, it's going to be lows as well. It's the lows that you take from that and try to improve. That's what I want to do this year.

Q. Is that sort of a reality that other young players at the club will have to perhaps be ready for?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: I think, yeah, 100%. They're going to make mistakes all the time. That's where you learn from them. I made mistakes myself. But it's how you're going to grow as a player and how you're going to mature.

Q. In yourself, do you feel more relaxed now at Chelsea? Last season you were almost having to prove yourself every game.

TREVOR CHALOBAH: For me, I'll never be relaxed. I think that's just the mentality I have. I'll always be the same as last season: every game is going to be a final trial for me. It's a massive club and I want to play every game.

I think me being relaxed, it's not going to help me. I think I always need to be on my toes, yeah, just be ready for every game and every training session.

Q. You mentioned you want to play every game. What was it like for you with Andreas and Tony going? Opens up opportunities. What is it like when you know the club actively is looking for players in your position?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: Obviously it's a big club. Chelsea is always going to try to strengthen the team in every position.

For me, I'm just focused on what I need to do to get into the team, what I done last season, to step up 10 times more, obviously show the manager that I'm ready.

Q. We are from Brazil. What do you say about the importance of Thiago Silva?

TREVOR CHALOBAH: I think Thiago for me is one of the idols I always looked up to when I was young. He brings a lot of experience to the team, as you seen how he played last season, unbelievable.

For me as a young player trying to get to that level, it's very important for me to learn every day. Everyone from the team learns from him as well. Yeah, he brings just a massive character to the team.