The young Blues had a difficult start to the Under-18 Premier League season, hosting Brighton & Hove Albion at Cobham and suffering a disappointing 5-2 defeat.

Brighton opened the scoring and doubled their advantage before schoolboy Chizaram Ezenwata netted an impressive brace. However, the Seagulls managed to score again before the interval and added another two goals, one of which came in stoppage time.

Although it wasn't the start of the season we were hoping for, Under-18s head coach Hassan Sulaiman highlighted positives that can help his squad as we move forward into the season.

'It was a tough lesson for the boys, but it’s one that is only going to encourage maturity,' Sulaiman began.

'That was one of the things that we shared in our post-match debrief, the fact that we have to learn very quickly from defeats like that.

'We’ve talked about controlling the game and maintaining technical consistency. If we fail to do that, we’ll get punished. For example, if our first touch isn’t accurate or we misplace a pass, we’re likely to face consequences.

'We need to be tactically smart and aware, especially in moments when the ball goes dead. These are crucial lessons for the players to learn from quickly.'

The current Chelsea Under-18s squad is younger compared to our Under-18 Premier League South winners from the 2023/24 season. It is primarily made up of first-year scholars with limited experience of full-time football, along with some Under-16s players who have risen to the challenge.

'We only had three second-year players in the side, and we finished the game with a number of Under-16s on the field, so it was a very young squad,' continued Sulaiman.

'This can lead to a bit of naivety in our approach. However, this is a development programme, and it provides a valuable opportunity for them to learn and grow from these experiences early on. These are the positive aspects of a game like this.

'There is still a need for mindset to be developed. The younger players, particularly those stepping up from Under-16s, need to adapt quickly and mature in their approach to the game.'

Although the players in the youth squad are significantly younger, Sulaiman is eager to see the players flourish both on and off the pitch. He believes that, by learning from experiences like the Brighton defeat, the players will naturally mature over time.

One of those Under-16s is Ezenwata, who scored twice on Saturday following some strong performances during pre-season. Although he's only 16 years old, the schoolboy's potential has created enthusiasm about his role for the rest of the season.

'He [Ezenwata] is determined, focused and trains hard every day. It’s no surprise that he got his rewards with those two goals and I’m sure he will score more over the course of the season.

'He’s a good finisher and I’m really pleased for Chizzy. He represents the future and the potential that this young squad has. I am looking forward to seeing the progress throughout the team.'

What's coming next?

Our Under-18 Premier League campaign continues as we take on Arsenal next Saturday morning. The match kicks off at 11am at the Arsenal Training Centre.