In-form Chelsea loanee wants to stay at Watford for the whole season

Chelsea youngster Nathan Aké has been one of the Blues' best players out on loan this season. Playing as a left-back for Watford, currently 7th in the Premier League, the versatile center back / full back / defensive midfielder has turned into a key player for manager Quique Sánchez Flores, starting 9 of the last 10 league matches.

While Aké's success has no doubt caught the eye back at Chelsea, the 20-year-old believes he will be staying at Vicarage Road for the whole season to continue his development, instead of being recalled to Stamford Bridge after José Mourinho's departure.  Which is the obvious move here; it's unclear why there are even suggestions out there that he'd be recalled.

"It's difficult to say. Of course, I'm happy here because I play every time, and I think that's going to be the case if I stay here. I think I'll still be here in February."

"I don't think that because the manager changes, suddenly I have a chance to play. I think it's just a matter of yourself, how you're playing, how you develop, and if you're able to come back next season and perform."

"I just try to play my game and develop myself, I think that's the most important thing. I'm playing well now but you need to do the whole season, not just a couple of games. I need to develop and then we'll see next year."

His current team will be facing Chelsea this coming weekend and even though Watford are on a great run of 4 wins in the last 5 league games, including last weekend's 3-0 demolition of Liverpool, Aké warns them not to come into Stamford Bridge with too much confidence.

"We've got a lot of confidence now but we can't get too much confidence and play easy, like we're a bigger team. I think Chelsea are still Chelsea, they're a top team. We're still on the bottom, and need to play like that as well."

Due to the standard terms on his loan agreement, Aké won't be able to be on the pitch to face his parent club. But he's not too worried about losing his starting spot and is focusing instead on his team playing above expectations.

"Of course, you want to keep playing but the next game is just two days after, so it's not a long wait. I think it's really good for me to play, it really helps me."

"This season has been crazy. Our position is deserved because we're playing well, we've worked really hard to be here and we just have to keep going."

-Nathan Aké; source: The Guardian

Hopefully, Aké's replacement at left back has a terrible game on Saturday, for everyone's sake.