I'm getting a sense of déjà vu reading these quotes from Kenneth Omeruo.
Flashback to last summer, when he talked up his chances of impressing as well, foolishly deciding not to fix his injured shoulder that he picked up at the Confederations Cup right away. Eventually he did have to have surgery, which derailed any designs he may have had at the Chelsea first team. He ended up on loan at Middlesborough, where he partnered England U21 international Ben Gibson at center back to decent, Championship mid-table results.
So now, a year later and a year older (though still just 20), we're back to square one.
"Going to the World Cup is an opportunity to show myself and prove that I am ready to play in the [Chelsea] first-team."
"I'm enjoying myself here in England and settling down to the football. I just need to take the opportunities when presented to me, stay focused, do my best and show the manager what I'm capable of doing."
-Kenneth Omeruo; source: Punch
Omeruo has never come across as anything but a most humble, motivated player who is fully cognizant of just how lucky he is to have the opportunity to impress and challenge for a spot at Chelsea. It's rather endearing and it sort of makes you want to root for the guy. He does have a tough task, with fellow hot young prospects Tomas Kalas, Kurt Zouma, Nathan Aké, and perhaps even Andreas Christensen all knocking on the door as well.
But good luck to him and Nigeria, who face Iran, Bosnia, and Argentina at the World Cup.