Oriol Romeu is relishing his time in the Chelsea spotlight and hopes he can convince Andre Villas-Boas that he is deserving of a regular role.
Blues youngster welcomes Villas-Boas' trust
Oriol Romeu is relishing his time in the Chelsea spotlight and hopes he can convince Andre Villas-Boas that he is deserving of a regular role.
The 20-year-old summer signing from Barcelona has been eased into the Stamford Bridge fold, with it important for him to acclimatise himself with his new surroundings before being thrown in at the deep end.
Villas-Boas has turned to the youngster in recent outings, though, with Chelsea forced to try a different approach after enduring an alarming dip in form.
Romeu has responded with assured performances that belie his age and inexperience, with the Spaniard immediately looking at home at the heart of the Blues' midfield.
He admits turning out in UEFA Champions League games such as Tuesday's crunch clash with Valencia and Monday's impending encounter with Premier League leaders Manchester City have assured him that he made the right choice in moving to London.
"I came because there was more chance of playing and to be playing in games of this magnitude, against Valencia and against Manchester City, is a marvel," Romeu said in the
Daily Express.
"I love playing generally, but it is even more enjoyable when it is in important games.
"I really like the style here. I liked watching it on TV before and I like it even more now, playing in it. It is a different kind of football - more physical, with more contact and quicker."
Evolution
Romeu is desperate to retain his starting berth for a meeting with City, after starting Chelsea's last two Premier League games, but concedes that competition for places at Stamford Bridge is fierce.
"I don't feel I'm an automatic choice in my position no, not at all," he said.
"There are three, four or five players who can play there. The only thing all of us can do is maintain our level if we want to play. It is a continual evolution and all of us can play at this point in time.
"The City game is a great chance to show everyone what we can do when we are playing well, against the league leaders.
"If we win, it will prove that we are still fighting for the league."
