McGlinchey: Time to prove ourselves against Arsenal

Chelsea's Under-18 team is getting ready for their second game of the 2024/25 season against Arsenal. Young player, Harry McGlinchey, who is in his first year of studying at the club, is focused on getting a good result after their loss in the first game of the season in the Under-18 Premier League.

Even though Chizaram Ezenwata scored two goals, the Blues had a difficult first day of the season, losing 5-2 to Brighton at Cobham last Saturday. Hassan Sulaiman's team will now go on the road to play against London rivals Arsenal, hoping to recover on Saturday morning, with the game starting at 11am.

Harry McGlinchey, a defender, wasn't happy about the first game's result. However, he thinks that using his disappointment as motivation will help him play better in the future. This will not only benefit him, but also the entire team, as they all work towards achieving better results.

The defender looked back on the game against Brighton and admitted that they didn't perform their best as a team. They were not up to par and it was a challenging match.

In the beginning of the game, we had a couple of good opportunities to score, but unfortunately, we were unable to capitalize on them. In the second half, we made some mistakes that ultimately resulted in the opposing team scoring against us.

The beginning didn't go as planned, but this outcome will only fuel our desire for a better result against Arsenal. It will motivate us to avoid making similar mistakes in the future and focus on improving. We will take this as a learning experience and continue to progress.

When it comes to improving himself, McGlinchey joined the Blue team when he was just 14 years old, having previously been with Plymouth Argyle. He has noticed improvements in how he plays, but there are still areas where he wants to get better before going up against the Gunners.

In the match against Brighton, I was a strong presence on the field, creating dangerous opportunities with my precise crosses. However, I recognize the need to improve and refine my skills. It's important to constantly strive for excellence in academy football, always seeking to adapt and improve based on feedback and instructions from coaches.

This week I focused on improving my connection with the wingers on the team, aiming to be a dependable asset for my teammates. On the defensive side, my goal is to be solid and create a strong barrier that is tough for opponents to break through.

In the game against Arsenal, I am determined to prove that I can be a dynamic player who can adjust to a defensive position while also being fearless in attacking and scoring goals. My goal is to provide assists, support our strikers, and showcase creativity in my play. It's crucial for our team to come together and work as one, as it will ultimately make us more formidable on the field.

This 16-year-old is embarking on his first full-time adventure in youth football and he is eager to see if the resources at Chelsea can boost his skills on the field.

My colleagues and I have been collaborating with the analysts to carefully review all the footage to prevent repeating any errors. We have also been reflecting on our decision-making and making sure we are strategizing for every action in advance.

The coaches have been actively involved this week because they recognize the talent in the team, and it's crucial for us to showcase that.

Hass is looking for a response. The team is looking for a response. I am confident that we will meet expectations.

McGlinchey concludes by wrapping up his last thoughts on the importance of mindset in ensuring that the team earns our first points of the season.

"The upcoming match against Arsenal is going to be a challenging one, we all understand that. Despite the disappointing start to the season, I believe it will motivate us even more to secure a positive result. It's crucial that we approach the next game with intensity and focus in order to maintain our competitive edge."

We need to have a good attitude when going into the Arsenal game. Having a positive mindset can really make a difference. If you want to win, you have to be passionate and determined to get the result. This will give you an advantage over the other team.

The beginning wasn't ideal, but we need to put it behind us, look ahead, and seize this opportunity to display our skills and determination to succeed.