Chelsea's Levi Colwill sends defiant message to fans after halting alarming slump

Levi Colwill says Chelsea will be stronger after coming through their mid-season slump.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca saw his team’s form dip after they blew the chance to go top in December as they went from title contenders to hoping to finish in the top four. But Colwill was on target in Chelsea’s win over Southampton which at least restored confidence and got their season back on track.

England defender Colwill said: “The last few games have been tough, so it was important to bounce back. To get those goals, keep a clean sheet, and most importantly boost our confidence – hopefully, we can take it on to the next game.

“We all trust each other and knew it would come. Every team goes through bad times or tough patches, we just have to get out of it and that’s what we did today. It raises our confidence.”

Chelsea have also ushered in a new wave of academy graduates with Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, and Shumaira Mheuka featuring against Southampton.

Colwill, who still lives in Southampton, came through the same route and was full of praise for Chelsea’s new generation as he also got his first goal of the season.

He added: “It’s amazing for the boys to come on. As an academy boy myself, I know how much it means to them. They were amazing when they came on – Tyrique got the assist, Shim was amazing, and Josh came on and was solid. I’m so happy for the boys, and hopefully, it continues and they keep progressing in the right way.

Will Chelsea finish in the top four? Share your predictions in the comments below

“I’ve missed a few chances this season, so it felt really good to get a goal. Of course, it was against a team I played for when I was young, and it’s the city I live in.

“I have a few friends who are Southampton fans, so it meant a lot to me. I grew up around St Mary’s Stadium, that’s where I learned a lot of my traits, so it meant a lot to me.”

Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.