Jeremie Boga joined Chelsea in 2009, at age 12, when his father moved to London for work and the talented young footballer came with him to be educated at Chelsea’s world class Academy. Since then, he’s won just about everything available to him at youth level (FA Youth Cups, UEFA Youth League, etc.) and having developed well beyond that level, has been trying his hand at the usual loan challenges that Chelsea cook up for the youngsters. So far, his two tries at Rennes and Granada have not been unqualified successes but he has been making progress both physically and mentally and has even collected his first senior international cap, opting to represent the country of his heritage, Cote d’Ivoire, rather than the county of his birth, France.
This summer, he’s also joined the Chelsea first-team on a pre-season tour for the first time, receiving more minutes than he might have expected due to Pedro’s unfortunate head injury and Charly Musonda’s muscle strain. All the while, Boga’s drinking in all he can from Antonio Conte, who’s working on improving the 20-year-old’s tactical game first and foremost.
“Even though last year was a difficult year for [Granada], I think I have learned a lot, especially because we had to defend and also technically I got better.”
“Now in just the few weeks I have been on pre-season with Antonio Conte, I have been learning a lot tactically and he is good for me. He gives instructions for the strikers, for the way we play and the way we defend also. It is very tactical and I think it is what I am missing in my game. I am really focused because I need to learn more tactically.”
“I feel more mature in my game and I am better within the team. I am more strong physically and I am better tactically as well, so I think I have grown a lot and I am very happy to be on pre-season with Chelsea.”
-Jeremie Boga; source: Metro
Whether Boga’s performances in games and in training will be enough to keep him with the first-team remains to be seen. One suspects that will have a lot to do with how Hazard, Pedro, and Musonda recover and if the team makes any further signings in attacking positions.
Either way, it’s good to see young Jeremie continuing to grow and improve and continuing to impress when given his chances.