Chelsea Under-18s head coach Hassan Sulaiman took positives from last Saturday's action-packed London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Cobham, which ended in a draw with three different Blues contributing to the scoreline.
Although our Under-18 Premier League fixture didn’t start the way we’d hoped, Reiss Elliott-Parris putting Tottenham ahead just four minutes in and extending their lead shortly before the half-hour mark, but Chelsea showed incredible fight and resilience to pull the score back to lead 3-2 by half-time.
The comeback was sparked by Under-18s top scorer Sol Gordon, who netted his 10th goal of the 2024/25 season, followed by Ollie Harrison’s fourth penalty of the campaign, after Gordon was fouled in the box. Then, during stoppage time at the end of the first half, Reggie Walsh unleashed a stunning shot to find the top corner beyond the keeper’s reach.
The second half proved slightly frustrating for Chelsea as, despite a handful of chances, Spurs made it difficult for us to find the back of the net. It was Ellis Lehane who eventually equalised for the visitors, bringing the score level at 3-3 at the final whistle.
'It was a very competitive and even game, a match that could have gone either way,' Sulaiman reflected. 'That said, I thought we showed some really good fight and courage. We were positive in parts, but in others, we could have been much better, which is reflected in the 3-3 scoreline.
'We were quite dominant in the first half, but in the second half, despite having chances, we struggled to find the back of the net. It was frustrating because we had opportunities to win.
'The boys started slow in the first half and conceded two avoidable goals, which we looked back on and reflected upon. When you review those moments, you see how they could have been prevented, but the character the boys showed was impressive. They showed resilience and managed to bring the game back to 3-2 in our favour in the first half, which I thought was a big achievement.
'It’s a testament to their character, every single player. We spoke about the importance of maturity and learning quickly. Coming from behind to take the lead shows that the boys have fighting spirit.
'Once we got into our flow, we played some good football. We were solid in possession and really threatened when breaking the lines and attacking their defence.
'Going into half-time at 3-2 was positive and we said we wanted more of that in the second half, but when we came out it wasn’t the same performance, which left us disappointed. We allowed them to gain a good hold of possession and equalise, which was arguably preventable.'
Against Tottenham, our matchday squad included four second-year scholars, seven first-year scholars and five schoolboy players, reflecting a young team with many players in their first full season at Under-18 level.
Sulaiman continued: 'Reggie's [Walsh] goal was fantastic. All the younger boys stepped up and it’s great to see. The build-up to the goal is a testament to everything we ask the boys to do in possession - being patient, finding the right opportunities and accelerating the tempo.
'Reggie was calm in front of goal and it was really pleasing for him. The finish with his weaker left foot after a superb cross from Genesis [Antwi] was excellent.
'Also, I was impressed with the lead-up to the goal. We saw a real team connection across the pitch. The link-up play was great throughout the game. The boys did well to communicate and connect with each other across the pitch.'
Although there is a pause in fixtures this week, we are already busy preparing for our next exciting upcoming match. The Blues enter the FA Youth Cup in the third round and will face Leicester City away at 7pm on Friday 13 December.
'We have more development to do before our next fixture,' added Sulaiman. 'What I want the boys to take from this game into the next one and into training is belief. They need to believe that they can play well. We’ve had strong performances against tough teams like West Ham and Aston Villa, who are top of the table.
'The boys have proven they can perform well and get results. We need to maintain that mature mindset, and we will continue to progress and develop. There’s a lot to take away from this performance and we’re excited for the next fixture ahead.'