Hassan Sulaiman praises strong team performance

Chelsea secured their third consecutive win in the Under-18 Premier League Cup, triumphing over Millwall with a solid 4-1 scoreline. Head coach Hassan Sulaiman expressed satisfaction not only with the team's performance but also with the development that his players are demonstrating.

Last weekend, our Under-18 team had an intense match against Millwall at their stadium, and we came away with a solid win, marking our third straight victory in various competitions. This win also allowed us to continue our success in the Under-18 Premier League Cup, earning us a place in the quarter-finals.

We kicked off our last group match at Millwall's training facility with a strong start, as Sol Gordon, our leading scorer from the Under-18 team, put us ahead only six minutes into the match. The energy carried on into the second half when Leo Cardoso scored our second goal, marking his third of the season. Gordon then struck again, extending our lead to 3-0.

Right before the match ended, George Beaumont scored a goal for Millwall, but we didn't back down. Frankie Runham sealed our win by scoring during injury time, resulting in a final score of 4-1. This victory secured our spot at the top of Group F with a flawless nine points.

From Chelsea's viewpoint, there was a strong motivation to secure a victory after our previous encounter with the Lions in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the 2023/24 season. In that match, the Blues' journey in the cup concluded after a 1-1 draw, leading to a 4-2 loss in the penalty shootout at The Den during the quarter-finals.

Sulaiman started by saying, "It was a solid showing against Millwall. We needed to mentally prime the players for that match since the weather was rainy and blustery, and they were heading into a tough environment."

The players were aware of what lay ahead. Millwall was going to be a challenging and resilient opponent, and naturally, we remembered the loss we faced against them in last season's FA Youth Cup. We understood the significance of claiming loose balls and made sure to get the boys ready for this kind of match.

The team fully embraced the challenge, and I was really impressed with how the guys played. They demonstrated resilience, tenacity, and commitment, successfully winning their aerial duels and tackles on a field that was uneven and difficult to navigate.

This season, our Under-18 team is notably youthful, featuring several schoolboys who have joined our first-year scholars, who represent a significant part of the squad. Sulaiman has highlighted the importance of having the right attitude, especially since for many of these players, this will be their initial experience at the Under-18 level.

We took the lead early in the match with a goal from Sol [Gordon], which was a boost for us. However, we knew we needed to focus on our defensive efforts as well. Towards the end of the first half, Millwall had a few corners in quick succession, and Sol made a crucial play by clearing one off the line to maintain our 1-0 advantage. This really highlights his strong mentality.

The day before, he celebrated his birthday, and he had recently signed a professional contract, making this an excellent week for him. He continued his success by scoring yet another goal in this match.

We understood that we had to secure a result from the match to advance from the group stage. With us at six points and Millwall at four—only one team could move forward. So, we demonstrated great determination to clinch the victory. We netted two goals in quick succession around the middle of the second half, thanks to Leo [Cardoso] and Sol, before Millwall managed to score one.

Later in the match, we extended our lead to 4-1, securing our victory. Yahya [Idrissi] was brought on as a substitute and put in a lot of effort playing as a forward during his time on the field. He played a key role in the final goal before Joseph [Wheeler-Henry] delivered a cross that Frankie [Runham] capitalized on to score from the back post.

In general, it was a great show, with the players bringing the right spirit to the game. I was pleased with how it went, and now we need to repeat that performance against Tottenham Hotspur.

Catch The London Derby Live!

The upcoming game for Chelsea Under-18s against Tottenham Hotspur is scheduled for this Saturday, November 30, at Cobham, starting at 11am.

The Blues aim to carry forward the momentum from our last Under-18 Premier League match, where we scored a 3-1 victory against Norwich City. In that game, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Reggie Walsh, and a late goal from Sol Gordon helped us secure the win. If we achieve another victory against Tottenham, it will also allow us to move ahead of them in the standings.

Fans around the globe can enjoy the match live at no cost on the official Chelsea app and website. Just head to the Chelsea Under-18s vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Centre, which will be available by clicking the link below or on the homepage right before the game starts.