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Gaël Kakuta


PaulHopkins
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  • 2 weeks later...
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France area team of outstanding individual talents and one of those potential stars, Gaël Kakuta, says their hard qualifying experience is helping them at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

One point away

Chelsea FC midfielder Kakuta was among those who stood out in the stunning 3-3 draw with Spain on Wednesday that kept the pair at the helm of Group B, and left Les Mini-Bleus needing only a draw against Switzerland tonight at Antalya's World of Wonders Football Centre to reach the semi-finals in Turkey. Hot temperatures are predicted, but Kakuta believes that their experience in the Elite round, when they finished above England and Russia in Israel, will be a help as they seek to emulate France's 2004 U17 champions.

Hard task

"It was a hard period for us against such opponents as England, Russia and Israel," Kakuta told uefa.com. "We played our Elite round games in Israel and the heat affected us very much." Kakuta, who scored twice in the decisive 3-1 win against Russia in Israel, is playing in similar conditions here but there is no time for enjoying the sea or sun between games. "We can only look at the internet in the hotel lobby, chat with our mates at meals and in the corridor of our rooms. That's all."

Stars

Kakuta and co are sharing the hotel with the other seven competing nations, and he has seen plenty of players that have impressed him. "Abdülkadir Kayalı and Gökhan Töre from Turkey, Thiago and Rubéand from the Spanish side," identified Kakuta.

Adapting to England

But whatever happens tonight he is rising fast a Chelsea, helping them to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season since joining from RC Lens. Kakuta, who singles out dribbling as his biggest attribute, has had no problem with homesickness. "It wasn't a problem for me to adapt to another country," said Kakuta. "My sister was living in England, so it hasn't bothered me to change country."

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  • 1 month later...

A number of smaller pieces of news surrounding the Academy and Reserves have been going around the last few days, most not reaching the masses at large, so by way of an attempt, a short round-up of what’s been going on with a few players.

Firstly, and most importantly, Gael Kakuta signed professional terms with Chelsea last week, having turned 17 in late June. It’s a small and fairly inevitable event given the outstanding season he had last year (players can only sign professional papers when they turn 17) but it’s another indication of the esteem in which he is held by everyone at Chelsea, and he should feature heavily in Reserve pre-season, which begins against Aldershot Town on Saturday at the Recreation Ground, with a 3pm kickoff.

Meanwhile, Morten Nielsen, who turns 19 midway through the coming season, is on the lookout for a loan move in his third year at Chelsea, the time players tend to be considered for it. His father, former Danish international and current Chelsea scout Benny Nielsen, spoke to Tipsbladet in Denmark:

“Morten would like to stay abroad and in English football, because he has tried playing at a high level with big crowds, where he actually got a lot better, but we don’t want to completely reject Denmark, because things can move quickly in this world.”

Morten isn’t the only player to be rumoured to be heading out on loan. Scott Sinclair has been linked with another Championship team in Swansea City, who want him to replace Liverpool’s Paul Anderson, who will go on loan to fellow promoted team Nottingham Forest after spending a successful season at the Liberty Stadium last year. Meanwhile, after Jack Cork’s sensational season at Scunthorpe, the Iron are after another Chelsea midfielder as they attempt to bounce straight back from relegation to League One.

Boss Nigel Adkins is reported to be interested in the services of Michael Woods, another player who will be on the lookout for the right loan. Local media suggest a deal will be done after Chelsea return from the Champions Youth Cup, but since the tournament is most likely off, a deal could be sorted sooner.

Finally, teenage Italian striker Umberto Varriale has rejected the chance to join Chelsea and will stay at Napoli. The prolific youngster has been included in the Partenopei’s Intertoto Cup squad and doesn’t want to leave his family.

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In a couple of years, Kakuta will be ready for the Premier League. He has the ability to go on and play regularly at Championship level in the next 12 months and I can't wait till we see him at the Bridge.

He is an incredibly exciting player thats for sure. It will be very interesting to see how he does, if he can cope with the Chelsea Academy "Second Season Syndrome" where a lot of players struggle to continue the good form they had in their first year, Woods, Sinclair, Sahar, Stoch and a few others have suffered from this.

Scolari has said he has before given chances to 17, 18 and 19 year olds. He may be tempted to give our brightest spark a chance.... who knows.

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  • 7 months later...

On blues News last night they said that in a reserves friendly game Kakuta suffered a broken ankle, i think they said it was broken in 2 places so is going to be out possible for up to a year. For probably the brightest star in our academy this is a massive blow in his development!

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Read about that -sounded fucking horrific -hopefully he'll return, but those injuries can sometimes be career changing and occasionally career ending.

I am sure he will return. But it is a serious injury, Sam Hutchinson and Adam Phillip both been off with lengthly lay offs and returned. The question is how much will is slow his development? He has made the first team bench this season and now this will put him right back....

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I am sure he will return. But it is a serious injury, Sam Hutchinson and Adam Phillip both been off with lengthly lay offs and returned. The question is how much will is slow his development? He has made the first team bench this season and now this will put him right back....

Was definitely one for the future. -as far as slowing his development, hopefully it's just put on temporary hold. There is a danger that 40-50% of players are never the same after a leg break, but to his advantage he has age on his side.

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Was definitely one for the future. -as far as slowing his development, hopefully it's just put on temporary hold. There is a danger that 40-50% of players are never the same after a leg break, but to his advantage he has age on his side.

That is the worry. Look what happened to Robben after a couple of long lay offs. Kakuta also has only just come back from a fairly long injury. He will need to be mentally strong now and be ready to get going again once he is fully healed.

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