Matej Delac looking forward to Chelsea Move

[EskWeston 696]

Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac, who will be joining Chelsea in the summer, has expressed his excitement at the move. It was announced back in September that we had the option to sign the 17-year-old, who has emerged through the ranks at top flight side Inter Zapresic, and he will arrive at Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in August.

'It's every player's dream to sign for such a big club and to play in the strongest league in the world, and I will be achieving that already at my age,' said the 6ft 3in youngster, who spent a fortnight training with the first team squad at Cobham in December.

'You watch those players on TV and the next thing you know you are with them on the pitch. It's a really huge thing to practice with such big stars,' he continued.

'I was mostly talking with the goalkeepers. Petr Cech complimented me on a few occasions. It was huge stuff for me. I tried to learn from him and I was copying his moves. Now I am following his regime and I hope I will be as good as him one day.'

Delac was the youngest ever debutant in Croatia's top division, saving a penalty on his debut as a 16-year-old last season, eventually making 15 league appearances before being instated as Zapresic's number one this season.

He has received a full call up to the Croatia squad 10 days after his 17th birthday, and has represented his country at Under 16, 17 and 19 levels.

When asked about Delac back in September, manager Carlo Ancelotti said: 'He is very young but he is having very good experience in his country and we think that he can be a very good goalkeeper in the future. Now he will stay in Croatia to play before he comes to play with us.'

Source: Chelsea FC

[boshman 1,073]

I think i read about him in the the Chelsea magazine a little while ago and it said that some people are touting him as the next Cech. Well if you make your debut for the first team of your club at 16 and get called up to your national side at 17 then you have to be decent don't you. Sounds promising. Hopefully he can do well here.

[EskWeston 696]

He has sounded for a while now like a top prospect and seems to be continuing in that vein. At 18 i am not sure what level the club will deploy him at, if he will go straight in as back up for first team or if he will play Reserve or even youth football. All well and good bringing these talented youngsters into the club but we have to give them the right environment to devlop for us, imo Matic hasn't been given enough time and neither has sturridge.

[5354 204]

I just hope we don't screw him up...

[Kostas 1,468]

I don't think he'll develop well sitting on the bench behind Cech,he's a goalkeeper after all.

Edited March 30, 2010 by Kostas

[EskWeston 696]

I don't think he'll develop well sitting on the bench behind Cech,he's a goalkeeper after all.

Well he has to start somewhere doesn't he? Very talented keeper by the looks of things and hopefully after a couple of years can really start to push Cech...

[Term-X 7,891]

I don't think he'll develop well sitting on the bench behind Cech,he's a goalkeeper after all.

cech will probably get injured again next season knowing him.

[Badboy 1,526]

Well he has to start somewhere doesn't he? Very talented keeper by the looks of things and hopefully after a couple of years can really start to push Cech...

Im not a fan of signing up and coming keepers, goal keeper is one position that youngsters cant get get games for unless an injury happens.

[Blueboy 14]

He has sounded for a while now like a top prospect and seems to be continuing in that vein. At 18 i am not sure what level the club will deploy him at, if he will go straight in as back up for first team or if he will play Reserve or even youth football. All well and good bringing these talented youngsters into the club but we have to give them the right environment to devlop for us, imo Matic hasn't been given enough time and neither has sturridge.

Time for what? To develop?

Edited March 31, 2010 by Blueboy

[EskWeston 696]

Time for what? To develop?

To develop yes, and to also grow into the team. These type of players have a lot to offer to the team with their abilities and we are not using them enough.

[zolayes 14,489]

To develop yes, and to also grow into the team. These type of players have a lot to offer to the team with their abilities and we are not using them enough.

agree especially about matic ..hope we dont lose him

[Alee. 182]

Looks promising

Edited April 1, 2010 by Alee.

[Kostas 1,468]

Goalkeepers highlights can be quite tricky,look ata Almunia last night watching highlights you would have thought he's next Yashin but that clearly isn't the case.

Delac looks good though

[Kostas 1,468]

Now that he has turned 18 Chelsea will loan him to a new club next week.He doesn't yet know where he'll play but expects Championship/Netherlands/Belgium

http://dalje.com/hr-sport/delac--ubilo-me-iscekivanje-zelim-opet-braniti/318825?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dalje+%28dalje.com+%28Hrvatski%29%29&utm_content=Twitter

Maybe one of our Croatian members can translate better than google.

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

Vitesse anyone?

[Kostas 1,468]

Would make sense,but a Championship loan wouldn't be bad either.

But I'd rather see him coming here and send one of our other keepers to rot play at Vitesse.

[eldo 868]

Chelsea called him on his birthday and they said to him that they yet don't know where they are going to send him on loan.

Vitesse lost one of their goalkeepers in recent days so it would make sense.

He probably won't play for his former club, they lost five consecutive games and they have 3 or 4 another GKs.

[Randall 315]

I'd like to see him go to mid-table championship club.