Callum Hudson-Odoi is the name on everyone’s lips again after another impressive performance as Chelsea’s new right wing-back.
The 20-year-old stole the show in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Burnley as his new position continues to provide a real threat down the right channel, even grabbing the assist for Cesar Azpilicueta’s opener.
His display was best summarised by a brief exchange overheard between Clarets boss Sean Dyche and winger Robbie Brady.
Dyche to Brady after that last Hudson-Odoi overlap: “Robbie!!! Tune in!!!l”
Brady: “I know where he f**king is, I just can’t stop him. What do you want me to do?” #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) January 31, 2021
Effectively put – he was unstoppable today. The Blues’ wonderkid seems to have shaken off the demons from the achilles injury he sustained in 2019 and is now playing with devastating fearlessness once again.
Comparisons to Victor Moses’ conversion from winger to wing-back under Conte make sense, yet Hudson-Odoi is so much more promising.
Widely regarded as one of the most exciting prodigies to come off the Cobham youth conveyor belt, if not the most, his direct dribbling and runs from deep had all kinds of alarm bells ringing in a Burnley back-line which is so notoriously tough to break down.
He completed 100 per cent of his take-ons, created three chances and had two shots, including one which struck the post.
When asked why he had chosen to play the youngster at wing-back for his first two games, Thomas Tuchel simply answered:
“Why not?”
(Quotes picked up by football.london)
The new Chelsea head coach added:
“Of course we knew him – there were big rumours around him and Bayern Munich. He was in the focus way before I ever thought about being his manager.
He can have his input on the line, he has the ability to be decisive with his runs, his speed and at the moment we have opted for this structure.
He had another good game today.”
(Quotes picked up by football.london)
