“We’ve got to be ready, and will be for Arsenal,” says Romeo Lavia

The Premier League continues to serve up a feast of footballing action, and Matchweek 11 is no exception.

This weekend promises a thrilling clash between two London giants as Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Both teams are in the top five, making this a highly anticipated encounter.
In anticipation of the London derby, Showmax sat down with Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia to discuss the game and his career.

You moved to England at the age of 16 and joined Manchester City’s academy. How challenging was it for you to come to England at such a young age?

The biggest challenge without a doubt was moving during COVID because in the first year I couldn’t come back to see my family, and they couldn’t come over, so as a young boy of 16 years old, who couldn’t speak any English, it wasn’t easy. That was the biggest challenge.

You then made a name for yourself at Southampton two seasons ago. What were some of the biggest lessons you learnt that you took to Chelsea?

It’s a very different situation that you’re in, so I will probably say I learnt how to deal with different results and how we can affect the next one. If we won, great, if we lost, figuring out ways on how to improve so we can do better the next game. That is what I had taken with to Chelsea.

You had a very difficult year last season with all the injuries that ruled you out for the entire season. How challenging was it to go through that at just 19 years of age ?

It was very challenging, because you’ve just joined a new club and you’re really excited at what you can do at such a beautiful club and then this happens. It’s hard at first, but you have to look at ways on how you can turn it into something positive, and I tried to have that in my head. Sometimes it was really hard, but I pushed myself to do my best in rehab so that I could come back and be as ready as possible.

What are some of the personal goals you want to achieve this year at Chelsea?

I think to definitely score my first Chelsea goal, preferably at Stamford Bridge, that’s one of my biggest goals. Apart from that, it’s more a collective goal. We’ve struggled a lot and with the quality that we have in the squad – it would mean more to achieve collectively then just achieve personal trophies.

You are described as an excellent passer and an intelligent player. But how would you describe your playing style?

It’s really hard to explain in words, but I am the one that keeps it ticking, if you know what I mean. To make everything go through me, and to help my players get into better positions. Defensively, to try not to concede and make the players’ jobs easier.

Were you always a defensive midfielder? Or were there are positions that you explored?

I started as a striker, which is surprising for most. I then quickly moved to centre back. Then, when I was about 14, I moved into midfield and from there, I didn’t move. Most of my coaches I trained under said I was best in midfield and they were right.

You face Arsenal this weekend. What do you anticipate as the biggest challenge against the Gunners?

It’s going to be challenging everywhere on the pitch. And they are a strong team. It is also a derby, and so they are going to go for it. We got to be ready and we will be ready. Whatever the challenge is, we are going to prepare as much as we can to face it.

What are Romeo Lavia’s interests outside of football? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I’m a massive gamer so outside of football I spend a lot of time on my console and apart from that, I am really simple. I stay on the phone with friends and family, we play games on the phone, games like UNO and Ludo, and we have a good time.

Sign up for the Showmax Premier League mobile plan for R69 p/m at www.showmax.com for all Premier League and PSL action.