Chelsea Under-21s continue our Premier League 2 campaign by hosting Everton at Kingsmeadow tonight, with kick-off set for 7pm.

Ishe Samuels-Smith reflects on the lessons learned from the Blues' recent outing against Tottenham Hotspur, where the side narrowly fell to a 2-1 defeat, analysing the aspects he hopes to develop ahead of our second game of the season.

'Tottenham was a good game, we dominated the first 20 minutes. However, after that we conceded some goals, which affected us mentally. Despite that, we stayed in the game until the end, though it wasn’t the result we hoped for.

'I think I did well defensively and was pleased to get an assist. The training we did during the week helped, but the result wasn’t what we wanted. It’s important to stay united as a team, especially after a game filled with mixed emotions.

'For us, staying together as a team is crucial; individualism won’t take us further than team unity. We need to stick together to achieve our goals.'

The 18-year-old joined Chelsea in July 2023 from tonight's opponents Everton, having been named in their first-team squad on the bench for an EFL Cup clash against Bournemouth and a Premier League match against Fulham at Goodison Park.

'Playing against Everton will be a good game. It will be nice to see some old faces since I was with them for so many years. However, it’s just another game, and I’m focused on keeping my head down and preparing well.

'Facing my former club will be emotional because I was very close to many of the players. It feels strange to go from training with them daily to playing against them in a competitive match. But, ultimately, it’s just another game.'

As the Under-21s squad prepares for their next match, with the goal of securing our first points of the season, Samuels-Smith offers insight into training this week.

'We’ve been working on patterns of play, such as varying our movements, overlapping runs and supporting our strikers. I’m looking to build on these aspects before our next match.

'Playing against various types of players offers different experiences and challenges. It’s about adapting and staying strong throughout the season.

'The biggest challenge is adapting to different playing styles and experiences. Playing against players who have made their senior debuts brings a new level of competition, but it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.'

Filipe Coelho’s side includes talented players with previous experience with Chelsea’s senior team, such as Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George, who recently returned from the men's pre-season tour of the USA with Enzo Maresca's squad.

Samuels-Smith has also had the opportunity to train with the senior team, an experience he believes has elevated his performance. He hopes to see the impact of those experiences in this Friday’s fixture.

'Playing with experienced team-mates will definitely help me progress. They bring a lot of knowledge from their time in professional football. Facing different playing styles requires adaptability. It’s important to stay focused and learn from others on and off the pitch.

'Having experience across the road [with the seniors at our Cobham training ground] has extended my understanding and desire to continue pushing for more. I’m looking forward to the game and I'm confident we’ll see a positive result that reflects the hard work we’ve put into training this week.'

Catch the Blues in Action

Secure your seats at Kingsmeadow for our second Premier League 2 fixture against Everton on Friday evening, with kick-off at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £7 for adults and £5 for juniors and seniors.

Tickets for our first Premier League International Cup match are also available to purchase. Join us on home turf again, next Wednesday evening at 7pm, as our Under-21s face RB Leipzig.