https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
dreamer-koulibaly-determined-to-repay-chelseas-confidence
Dreamer Koulibaly determined to repay Chelsea's confidence
03 Aug 2022
Kalidou Koulibaly is finally a Chelsea player after years of dreaming
about the move and now the defender is just determined to repay the faith
shown in him by the Chelsea hierarchy.
https://i.imgur.com/RhssNra.jpg
The Senegal skipper recently completed a move from Napoli and fills a void
left by the double defensive departure this summer of Andreas Christensen
and Antonio Rudiger.
While the 31-year-old is eager to be judged on his own merits rather than
compared to predecessors, including John Terry whose No.26 shirt he is set
to take, he also admits that he owes a debt of gratitude to the Blues for
bringing him to south-west London on a four-year contract and making his
long-term ambitions a reality.
'I thought this was a good time to come to the Premier League,' he said.
'I have the experience, I learned a lot in Italy and now I have to learn
again in the Premier League so I'm really excited.
https://i.imgur.com/yrCJh8w.jpg
Koulibaly addresses the media at a Cobham press conference
'It's important that Chelsea gave me four years. For me it's proof that
they have confidence in me, that they know that I'm a professional player
and I like to take care of my body.
'I didn't have many big injures so for this they have confidence in me. I
know that I can give them these years and even more, with a lot of energy
and everything that I can give them.'
Dreaming is important to Koulibaly, who has ambitions to lift major
silverware at Stamford Bridge following his triumph at the African Cup of
Nations earlier this year.
He was hopeful of making the switch from Naples to Chelsea prior to this
summer but wasn't able to get the move finalised and instead extended his
Serie A stay to a total of eight years.
'In 2015 it was [Antonio] Conte and I spoke with him,' he explained. 'It
was after my first good year in Napoli, but I had three or four years left
on my contract there.
'I don't like to fight with my owners and my supporters but I asked
respectfully to the owner that I wanted to leave for Chelsea. He told me
it was not possible so I waited a bit, continued with them and I decided
to renew my contract to stay in Napoli.
'It was a bit hard to say no to the Premier League because my dream was to
play in the Premier League since I was a child but I knew one day it would
happen. I had to wait but I had a lot of patience and I'm here today so
I'm happy.'
Koulibaly has developed a reputation as one of the most respected
defenders in Europe and so Chelsea was not the only option available to
him this summer, though it was the only club he could really see himself
moving to at this stage of his career.
'I don't like to think or speak about it because today I play for
Chelsea,' he added. 'It's true that other clubs were interested in signing
me and it could happen before but the best thing is I'm signed for Chelsea
today and I'm really happy to play with the Blues.
'I knew that everybody was thinking I'd never come to the Premier League
and I would never play for another club than Napoli but I make my choices
along with my family, my friends and the people who love me, and I decide.
'I never stopped believing and this is the most important thing, to have
some dreams, and then some dreams happen. My dream with the national team
was to win the first AFCON and I did it so for me you never stop believing
because if you believe so strongly then it can happen.'