Callum Hudson-Odoi

[Milan 17,853]

What the hell happened to this guy? Has he broken his leg or what? I swear I cannot remember the last game he played for us. Not that he is a world beater, but still..

[Vesper 28,807]

1 minute ago, Milan said:

What the hell happened to this guy? Has he broken his leg or what? I swear I cannot remember the last game he played for us. Not that he is a world beater, but still..

Achilles

[DDA 9,690]

Got an assist on his debut. Well done lad. 👏 

[Vesper 28,807]

Hudson-Odoi in Germany: Catching the eye in the Champions League and as a No 10

https://theathletic.com/3614637/2022/09/22/callum-hudson-odoi-leverkusen/

 

 

It took all of five minutes for Callum Hudson-Odoi to produce a first flash of the quality that Chelsea supporters are hoping catches fire at Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Picking up the ball by the left touchline midway through the second half against Freiburg, the substitute cuts infield and digs out a cross that loops invitingly towards a pocket of space just outside the six-yard box. Patrik Schick backtracks to meet it, then powers a header back across goalkeeper Mark Flekken to make it 2-2.

Freiburg went on to win that game at the start of the month, compounding Leverkusen’s awful start to the Bundesliga season, but Hudson-Odoi’s contribution off the bench served notice that their embattled Swiss coach Gerardo Seoane does at least have a potent new attacking weapon at his disposal as he attempts to turn around his team’s fortunes.

 

Four days later, Hudson-Odoi was rewarded with his first Leverkusen start, away to Club Bruges in the Champions League, and only a VAR offside decision prevented him from conjuring a similar goal: another high, arcing cross with his right foot, this time hit from closer to the touchline, floats deep into the penalty area…

…over a sea of jostling bodies and touches down just inside the six-yard box, before bouncing back up and nestling into the far corner of the net. What’s the German for “corridor of uncertainty“?

Hudson-Odoi may not be able to say it in the native tongue of his temporary home but he certainly knows how to find it.

Seoane did not keep Hudson-Odoi on the left against Bruges, however. The Cobham graduate spent much of the evening operating more centrally as Leverkusen’s No 10. Part of his job was to take up intelligent positions behind the Bruges midfield to receive the ball (as in the move shown below), drive into the space ahead of him…

…and make the right decision when he got into the final third. Here, he looks up, recognises that Jeremie Frimpong is the open man in a crossing position on the right, and finds him.

That is a relatively straightforward sequence but Hudson-Odoi’s No 10 contributions in the next Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid had a considerably higher degree of difficulty.

In the 84th minute, he drifts over to the right touchline to receive a pass from Frimpong and, having drawn four Atletico players towards him, immediately clips a return pass into the right channel for the Dutchman to chase.

Frimpong gets there and ultimately cuts the ball back to the edge of the box, where Robert Andrich fires into the far corner of the net.

Three minutes later, with Atletico pushing up in search of an equaliser, Hudson-Odoi receives the ball in his own half, well aware that Mario Hermoso is coming to pressure him, which vacates space to his right. He quickly jinks away into it, leaving the Spaniard trailing in his wake.

Leading the Leverkusen break, he once again picks the right moment to shift the ball into the path of Frimpong on his right…

…and the low cross that follows gives Moussa Diaby the chance to apply a clinical finish to Leverkusen’s rapid counter-attack, sealing a huge upset.

Hudson-Odoi’s ability to create danger from central areas and cutting in from the left has given Leverkusen’s attack fresh impetus in recent weeks.

“He helps us with his technique and agility, also that he can change his position during the game,” Seoane said of his new loan addition. “That is very valuable for us as a team.”

---

Hudson-Odoi’s positional versatility should not come as a surprise.

For much of his Chelsea youth career, the now 21-year-old considered himself primarily a No 10 and only moved out to the left flank for England’s Under-17 World Cup-winning campaign in 2017 once Jadon Sancho departed the tournament to return to Borussia Dortmund duties at the end of the group stage.

Neither role ever seemed particularly attainable for Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea, partly due to fierce competition from expensive attacking signings and partly due to the fact that previous head coach Thomas Tuchel quickly concluded that his value was limited to providing cover at right wing-back.

By the end of this summer, Hudson-Odoi felt as if he had gone stale at Chelsea — a feeling cemented by Tuchel’s decision to leave him out of the matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Everton without explanation.

Hudson-Odoi was proactive in canvassing other options and Leverkusen, boasting an impressive track record of developing young attacking talent sourced from their academy and elsewhere, immediately stood out among them.

Germany was always likely to be the destination, too.

Among those close to Hudson-Odoi, there is still the nagging question of how much closer to fulfilling his potential he would be now if he had joined Bayern Munich when they were keen three years ago, influenced by Sancho’s rapid rise to superstardom at Dortmund and also by the spectacular emergence of fellow Chelsea academy graduate Jamal Musiala at Bayern as the new golden boy of German football.

Leverkusen offered him the chance to make up for lost time in a league that has provided fertile ground for dynamic young attackers to blossom.

Hudson-Odoi’s early performances have underlined that he is well and truly over the bizarre nerve issue that curtailed last season, as well as reflecting just how seamlessly he has adapted to life in western Germany off the pitch.

Chelsea colleague Kai Havertz helped beyond giving previous club Leverkusen his seal of approval, making some initial dressing-room introductions. Hudson-Odoi has found a squad full of English speakers as well as natural friends in the forms of Frimpong and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, two other graduates of Premier League academies (Manchester’s City and United respectively) who share his Ghanaian family heritage. He is still taking German lessons, though, and is determined to assimilate as fully as he can.

Hudson-Odoi’s first five appearances in a struggling Leverkusen side have yielded only that one assist to Schick and zero goals, but the examples detailed above give a fuller picture of the threat he has carried in these early weeks.

The more significant statistic is that, since coming off the bench to make his debut in that loss to Freiburg, he has started four matches in a row across all competitions — a feat he only managed twice in five seasons back at Chelsea.

That, ultimately, is the point of joining Leverkusen on a season-long loan. “Regular football gives you consistency and the more games you play, the more consistent you become, the more form starts to kick in,” Hudson-Odoi said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday last week.

“You feel fresher, you feel better, you feel like… not that you’re getting treated fairly, but that you’ve got the trust from the manager to push you, and kick you on. You don’t want to be on the bench thinking, ‘Why am I not playing?’, and then it becomes weeks and weeks, and the legs are rusty when you do play.

“The most important thing is consistent football. That’s what I’m getting here and it’s making me feel better.”

[Tomo 21,733]

13 hours ago, Vesper said:

Hudson-Odoi in Germany: Catching the eye in the Champions League and as a No 10

https://theathletic.com/3614637/2022/09/22/callum-hudson-odoi-leverkusen/

 

 

It took all of five minutes for Callum Hudson-Odoi to produce a first flash of the quality that Chelsea supporters are hoping catches fire at Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Picking up the ball by the left touchline midway through the second half against Freiburg, the substitute cuts infield and digs out a cross that loops invitingly towards a pocket of space just outside the six-yard box. Patrik Schick backtracks to meet it, then powers a header back across goalkeeper Mark Flekken to make it 2-2.

Freiburg went on to win that game at the start of the month, compounding Leverkusen’s awful start to the Bundesliga season, but Hudson-Odoi’s contribution off the bench served notice that their embattled Swiss coach Gerardo Seoane does at least have a potent new attacking weapon at his disposal as he attempts to turn around his team’s fortunes.

 

Four days later, Hudson-Odoi was rewarded with his first Leverkusen start, away to Club Bruges in the Champions League, and only a VAR offside decision prevented him from conjuring a similar goal: another high, arcing cross with his right foot, this time hit from closer to the touchline, floats deep into the penalty area…

…over a sea of jostling bodies and touches down just inside the six-yard box, before bouncing back up and nestling into the far corner of the net. What’s the German for “corridor of uncertainty“?

Hudson-Odoi may not be able to say it in the native tongue of his temporary home but he certainly knows how to find it.

Seoane did not keep Hudson-Odoi on the left against Bruges, however. The Cobham graduate spent much of the evening operating more centrally as Leverkusen’s No 10. Part of his job was to take up intelligent positions behind the Bruges midfield to receive the ball (as in the move shown below), drive into the space ahead of him…

…and make the right decision when he got into the final third. Here, he looks up, recognises that Jeremie Frimpong is the open man in a crossing position on the right, and finds him.

That is a relatively straightforward sequence but Hudson-Odoi’s No 10 contributions in the next Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid had a considerably higher degree of difficulty.

In the 84th minute, he drifts over to the right touchline to receive a pass from Frimpong and, having drawn four Atletico players towards him, immediately clips a return pass into the right channel for the Dutchman to chase.

Frimpong gets there and ultimately cuts the ball back to the edge of the box, where Robert Andrich fires into the far corner of the net.

Three minutes later, with Atletico pushing up in search of an equaliser, Hudson-Odoi receives the ball in his own half, well aware that Mario Hermoso is coming to pressure him, which vacates space to his right. He quickly jinks away into it, leaving the Spaniard trailing in his wake.

Leading the Leverkusen break, he once again picks the right moment to shift the ball into the path of Frimpong on his right…

…and the low cross that follows gives Moussa Diaby the chance to apply a clinical finish to Leverkusen’s rapid counter-attack, sealing a huge upset.

Hudson-Odoi’s ability to create danger from central areas and cutting in from the left has given Leverkusen’s attack fresh impetus in recent weeks.

“He helps us with his technique and agility, also that he can change his position during the game,” Seoane said of his new loan addition. “That is very valuable for us as a team.”

---

Hudson-Odoi’s positional versatility should not come as a surprise.

For much of his Chelsea youth career, the now 21-year-old considered himself primarily a No 10 and only moved out to the left flank for England’s Under-17 World Cup-winning campaign in 2017 once Jadon Sancho departed the tournament to return to Borussia Dortmund duties at the end of the group stage.

Neither role ever seemed particularly attainable for Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea, partly due to fierce competition from expensive attacking signings and partly due to the fact that previous head coach Thomas Tuchel quickly concluded that his value was limited to providing cover at right wing-back.

By the end of this summer, Hudson-Odoi felt as if he had gone stale at Chelsea — a feeling cemented by Tuchel’s decision to leave him out of the matchday squad for the Premier League opener against Everton without explanation.

Hudson-Odoi was proactive in canvassing other options and Leverkusen, boasting an impressive track record of developing young attacking talent sourced from their academy and elsewhere, immediately stood out among them.

Germany was always likely to be the destination, too.

Among those close to Hudson-Odoi, there is still the nagging question of how much closer to fulfilling his potential he would be now if he had joined Bayern Munich when they were keen three years ago, influenced by Sancho’s rapid rise to superstardom at Dortmund and also by the spectacular emergence of fellow Chelsea academy graduate Jamal Musiala at Bayern as the new golden boy of German football.

Leverkusen offered him the chance to make up for lost time in a league that has provided fertile ground for dynamic young attackers to blossom.

Hudson-Odoi’s early performances have underlined that he is well and truly over the bizarre nerve issue that curtailed last season, as well as reflecting just how seamlessly he has adapted to life in western Germany off the pitch.

Chelsea colleague Kai Havertz helped beyond giving previous club Leverkusen his seal of approval, making some initial dressing-room introductions. Hudson-Odoi has found a squad full of English speakers as well as natural friends in the forms of Frimpong and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, two other graduates of Premier League academies (Manchester’s City and United respectively) who share his Ghanaian family heritage. He is still taking German lessons, though, and is determined to assimilate as fully as he can.

Hudson-Odoi’s first five appearances in a struggling Leverkusen side have yielded only that one assist to Schick and zero goals, but the examples detailed above give a fuller picture of the threat he has carried in these early weeks.

The more significant statistic is that, since coming off the bench to make his debut in that loss to Freiburg, he has started four matches in a row across all competitions — a feat he only managed twice in five seasons back at Chelsea.

That, ultimately, is the point of joining Leverkusen on a season-long loan. “Regular football gives you consistency and the more games you play, the more consistent you become, the more form starts to kick in,” Hudson-Odoi said in an interview with the Mail on Sunday last week.

“You feel fresher, you feel better, you feel like… not that you’re getting treated fairly, but that you’ve got the trust from the manager to push you, and kick you on. You don’t want to be on the bench thinking, ‘Why am I not playing?’, and then it becomes weeks and weeks, and the legs are rusty when you do play.

“The most important thing is consistent football. That’s what I’m getting here and it’s making me feel better.”

t's unforgivable he's gone with Pulisic and Ziyech still here.

[Vesper 28,807]

2 hours ago, Tomo said:

t's unforgivable he's gone with Pulisic and Ziyech still here.

that's on Tuchel, to a point

what I hope is that CHO is chatting up Diaby (left-footed RWer, a real force) to come to Chels, lolol

[Tomo 21,733]

45 minutes ago, Vesper said:

that's on Tuchel, to a point

what I hope is that CHO is chatting up Diaby (left-footed RWer, a real force) to come to Chels, lolol

I'm worried with one year left on his deal next summer an impressive season in Germany could lead to Bayern saga 2.0.

Hopefully with his teammates from youth level here this time he won't get as close or worse.

[DDA 9,690]

After watching his performances  at Byern L.... sadly I think its safe to say, he is done at the highest level. 

That injury ruined his career. Soo frustrating to watch, knowing what he could have become.

[James 5,199]

 

[James 5,199]

 

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

What a talent he was.   Wouldn't have needed to spend that amount on Mudryk if this kid was fit. 

[YorkshireBlue 3,122]

15 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

What a talent he was.   Wouldn't have needed to spend that amount on Mudryk if this kid was fit. 

 

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

2 hours ago, YorkshireBlue said:

 

Not really relevant but anyway...

As I was saying, a massive talent ruined by injuries and poor coaches asking him to play RWB. 

[YorkshireBlue 3,122]

19 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Not really relevant but anyway...

As I was saying, a massive talent ruined by injuries and poor coaches asking him to play RWB. 

Very relevant, IF is a big word, he's not fit he's not good enough, he's never been good enough. Good bye good riddance.

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

1 minute ago, YorkshireBlue said:

Very relevant, IF is a big word, he's not fit he's not good enough, he's never been good enough. Good bye good riddance.

Same could be said about plenty of players currently at Chelsea.   Part of the reason why we'll struggle to get back into top 6 this season....

[YorkshireBlue 3,122]

12 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Same could be said about plenty of players currently at Chelsea.   Part of the reason why we'll struggle to get back into top 6 this season....

Could is another big word, these young players haven't had the amount of opportunities CHO had, so we have to wait and see.

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

5 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Not really relevant but anyway...

As I was saying, a massive talent ruined by injuries and poor coaches asking him to play RWB. 

Injuries ruined him yes.

Bit of a selective memory because I think Callum was basically out of the team and not playing with Frank until Tuchel came and played him as a RWB/LWB.

But sure poor coaches ruined him playing him RWB.

I think the £150k a week contract ruined him.

Edited September 1, 2023 by OneMoSalah

[Vesper 28,807]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

I think the £150k a week contract ruined him.