Joseph Wheeler-Henry is eager to return to winning ways when our young Blues host west London rivals Fulham at Cobham on Saturday morning. The Under-18 Premier League action starts at 11am, and supporters worldwide can watch the live stream on the official Chelsea app, website and YouTube channel.
Chelsea Under-18s are ready to bounce back from their narrow 2-1 defeat to Southampton at Staplewood Training Ground. They have been busy preparing for our derby against Fulham, and reflecting on our previous league performance. Wheeler-Henry is eager to make an impact in the upcoming fixture and has set personal goals for the game.
Fulham have had a strong start to the 2024/25 campaign, recording four wins, two draws, and one loss since the season began. The Cottagers come into this fixture with momentum, following a 2-1 victory over Leicester City last weekend.
'This week, I’m feeling more confident overall,' said Wheeler-Henry. 'My performance against Southampton had some strong moments. I made a few crucial blocks, including a goal-line clearance, which helped the team stay in the game.
'However, there were moments where I could have done better, particularly in staying fully focused. Playing center-back, I realise I need to improve on some aspects, especially for the goals we conceded. I’m learning from those mistakes and feeling prepared to bring that into the next game against Fulham.
'In training, we’ve been working hard on set-pieces and defending crosses, as we’ve conceded too many goals from those situations.
'I’ve been focusing on my strengths in speed and power, aiming to be proactive so that the opposing attackers don’t even get the chance to run behind me. Using my speed can be an advantage, but I’m focused on keeping them from having that opportunity altogether.'
As matchday quickly approaches, the Blues defender has identified two key areas in Hassan Sulaiman's side’s performance that he wants to improve to help secure three points.
'Mindset is everything in football. Going into Fulham, I think we need to bring controlled aggression,' he continued. 'At times, we’ve been too nice, letting teams get away with physical play while we hold back.
'I believe we need to set the tone early, let Fulham know they’re in a battle by going in strong on the first tackles. It’s about showing them we’re here to compete and won’t back down.
'Another element in football that is crucial we get right is communication. Talking is key to keeping everyone aligned, especially when teammates can’t see what’s happening around them.
'By calling out things like a man approaching or covering each other in 2-v-1 situations, we can help everyone feel more secure in their roles. It builds confidence and ensures everyone knows their position on the field.'
As one of Chelsea's first-year scholars, having signed his scholarship back in July at Stamford Bridge, this is Wheeler-Henry's first full season at Under-18 level.
The 16-year-old concluded: 'For this game, I want to dominate in one-on-one battles, especially against their strikers.
'I’m aiming not to give them any clear chances, to block shots effectively and to protect our goal. A clean sheet is the ultimate goal, and even though we haven’t had one yet this season, I feel like it’s coming.'
Watch our young Blues in action
Supporters worldwide can watch Chelsea Under-18 Premier League action as we host Fulham at Cobham on Saturday morning, with a 11am kick-off. The game will be available for free on our official Chelsea app, website and YouTube channel, through the Chelsea Under-18s vs Fulham Under-18s Match Centre.