EskWeston 696 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boshman 1,073 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5354 204 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I just hope we don't screw him up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostas 1,468 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Term-X 7,891 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badboy 1,526 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueboy 14 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zolayes 14,489 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alee. 182 Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 (edited) Looks promising Edited April 1, 2010 by Alee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostas 1,468 Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostas 1,468 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 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/Belgiumhttp://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=TwitterMaybe one of our Croatian members can translate better than google. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
We Hate Scouse 10,326 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Vitesse anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kostas 1,468 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldo 868 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall 315 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I'd like to see him go to mid-table championship club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
- 25 - 167 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I'd like to see him go to mid-table championship club.Just anywhere he can get games would be fine, he might as well be training at Cobham if he's not first choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDN Blue 7,903 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 So.. Has he arrived yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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