At the end of January, the Premier League’s top two sides met at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea five points clear at the summit. Four days earlier, we had beaten Liverpool to progress to the Capital One Cup final when Zouma shone from the off. It was enough to earn only his second start in England’s top-flight for the visit of our nearest title rivals.
‘It is a good memory,’ he recalls to the official Chelsea website. ‘And it was an important stage in my development.
‘First of all I played the game and I was really proud of that. We drew 1-1 and we defended well. For my part I think I did well against a good attack, helping the team to a draw.
‘We know we are playing against a good team on Sunday and it will be difficult, but we have a chance to win. I think it will be a very interesting game.
‘It’s a chance early in the season to show why we are champions. We want to defend our title. The season after a very good season is always hard but we have to show we are ready to try and do it.’
Last term, Zouma showed his versatility when he lined up in central midfield for certain games, most notably the League Cup triumph over Tottenham at Wembley. He has grown up as a right-sided defender but both in the pre-season game against Barcelona and the Community Shield he featured on the other side of the back four.
‘Because I’m right-footed I have never played at left-back,’ he explains. ‘It was different for me positionally so I had to learn quickly and adapt to it.
‘It’s really not a problem because the boss needed me in that position and I have to give everything for the team. We all have to think about the team first of all so I always do that.
‘They were good experiences for me because I played the games and I always want to be on the pitch enjoying myself and helping the team.
‘I’m feeling very well. I had some opportunities to play in pre-season and play in some good games. Now the Premier League has started we are just focused on the next game. We are looking forward to it.’
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