Alfie Gilchrist hails Mauricio Pochettino after achieving Chelsea ‘dream’ in win over Tottenham

Alfie Gilchrist says that Mauricio Pochettino gives young players like him the confidence they need to succeed at Chelsea.

At just 20 years old, Alfie went from being a fan in the stands to helping Chelsea win 2-0 against Tottenham in his first home Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

People are really excited about Alfie’s journey, and during the game, fans chanted “he’s one of our own” to show their support.

Alfie recently signed a new contract until 2026, and he’s been praised by Chelsea legend John Terry for his amazing attitude.

Talking about his journey, Alfie said, “I used to sit up in the stands, but now I’m down here playing. If you had told me this would happen at the start of the season, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s a dream come true.”

“I hope to keep achieving more. Playing in games like these helps me improve. My family encourages me to keep going and believe in myself.”

In his recent game, Alfie played really well, keeping top players like Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson in check. He helped Chelsea keep a clean sheet and win the game with goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson.

Alfie gives credit to Pochettino for his progress, especially after a tough 5-0 loss to Arsenal in his first league start.

“Pochettino has given me a lot of confidence to play my football for Chelsea. He keeps us calm and guides us on what to do. We’re all still learning, but the support is great,” Alfie said.

“After my debut against Palace, I felt like he believed in me even more. Getting my first start helped me build a good relationship with him.”

Alfie is determined to help Chelsea qualify for Europe, saying, “It gives us all confidence and boosts our morale. We just need to keep building on our progress.”