Josh Acheampong has earned plaudits from scout Jacek Kulig following Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso's men made it two wins out of two since the international break courtesy of a brace from Pedro Neto (46' and 90'). While Neto's performance won him the Player of the Match award, there was a clear improvement in defence.
Chelsea had conceded the most goals of any side in the top half of the Premier League heading into the game. But a resilient defence kept the Toffees at bay and Acheampong played a crucial role.
Everton 0-2 Chelsea: Acheampong's Maturity Impresses Scout
Acheampong made his fourth start in six league games today but he moved to right-back as Alonso addressed Reece James' injury absence. He rarely put a foot wrong and managed to get through the game after picking up a booking in the first half.
Kulig highlighted Acheampong's maturity when reacting to his outing on Merseyside. He wrote on X:
"Josh Acheampong is developing so well under Xabi Alonso. I was worried the yellow card might put him in trouble, but he responded with remarkable maturity. Solidity, composure, and complete control of his emotions. Another very encouraging performance."
Acheampong is a product of Chelsea's academy and broke into the first-team in September 2024. He's yet to nail down a starting berth but James' injury could open the door for him to take up the right-back position as Malo Gusto missed the game with illness.
The English youngster won five of nine ground duels, two of three aerial duels and made six clearances. He also broke up play with three tackles and influenced proceedings going forward five passes into the final third.
Xabi Alonso Clearly Trusts 'Confident' Acheampong
Alonso is a big fan of Acheampong and made that clear earlier this season when he pointed out the eight-cap England U21 international's 'confidence and aggressiveness'. He told reporters:
"For me, when he plays with confidence and aggressiveness, he has a lot of attributes for a modern defender because he can play in different positions, he’s good with the ball, and he understands his role."
With James set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Acheampong could be competing with Gusto for the right-back starting berth. The Frenchman was unavailable against Everton but once he's back it will be interesting to see whether Alonso continues with the club's academy graduate in the position.
