“They turn you into animals” – Chelsea star admits he doesn’t know “what’s been done” to produce academy superstars | OneFootball

Levi Colwill is an interesting character – from living with his parents to sponsoring a local grassroots club, he’s not quite an oddball, but he’s got something slightly eccentric about him.

So he was the perfect subject for BBC Sport’s Football Focus this week ahead of Chelsea’s Sunday afternoon clash against Leicester. The full interview will be out on the day, but the BBC Sport website published some extracts which are really interesting, especially on the subject of Enzo Maresca.

Colwill can’t praise him highly enough, claiming that the Italian coach is a visionary:

“I think with Maresca, the way he thinks about football is light years above everyone else,” said Colwill.

“Of course, I have been blessed with loads of different managers that have been amazing. He is pushing me to understand football in a different way. That’s why I’m very blessed to play football under him and learn as much as possible.”

Colwill hails academy process which produces “animals”

Shim Mheuka prepares for his senior Chelsea debut.

Colwill is the latest successful graduate of Chelsea’s academy, and as well as hailing Maresca he also praised the system that had brought him through and turned him into a top player:

“You can see the difference between Chelsea academy players and others,” he said.

“The treatment you get at Chelsea, they turn you into animals. These players coming up now are different. I don’t know what’s been done there.”

He pointed to the likes of Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George and Shim Mheuka, who have all started making their first team breakthroughs in the Conference League this season.

Levi is still just 22, but by the time that next generation are his age, he will be one of the most experienced players in the squad, and his duty will be to help bring them through.