Matt Miazga wants to be the best American player in Europe

Following the trail left by players such as Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, defender Matt Miazga is yet another player from the US plying his trade at the Premier League. Miazga joined Chelsea in January this year, and he's really enjoying being part of the team.

"The set up is great over there - I feel like even in training I'm getting so much better working with all these world-class players. I just have to be patient, and when I get opportunities take them and slowly impress the coaching staff and just establish myself."

Despite the humbly words towards himself and the group he's part of at Chelsea, Miazga remains confident on his own ability. He's set himself to be 'the best American player' by testing himself on European grounds, and within a club as big as Chelsea.

"I wanted to test myself in Europe to see what I can do. I want to be the best player I can be, the best American player. Why not challenge myself at one of the biggest clubs in the world?"

Miazga was a staple in the defensive line of his former club New York Red Bulls at the MLS, having played 30 games in the league last year - 28 as a starter. At Chelsea, he has yet to see the pitch for the first-team. Nevertheless, Miazga believes in his own talent to make it through Chelsea's squad on a consistent basis.

"It's definitely a little different because I had been playing consistently and now I'm not. As a young player, you have to grind through. I was happy to be on the roster, or squad - they say squad [in England] - for such a big game [against Paris Saint-Germain] after I had just got to the club.

"Now I'm hoping to make the roster more consistently. I know I can do it. I'm in a great situation."

-Matt Miazga; Source: ESPN FC

Many could say Miazga's transfer to Chelsea was premature or even as a step above his current stature in the game. But given his attitude, these doubts will only feed him to prove himself on the pitch once he steps onto it wearing a Chelsea shirt.