Lewis Hall returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his £30 million move from Chelsea to Newcastle was confirmed in the summer. The left-back was a popular figure in the Chelsea academy and won the Player of the Year award before the new owners decided he was pure profit and shipped him out to Newcastle.
Crystal Palace had proposed a loan deal, but once Newcastle showed interest, Hall – who is a neighborhood Magpies fan – decided that joining Eddie Howe was the best move. He spoke exclusively to Telecom Asia about how his first game against Chelsea, the club he came through, felt.
He said: “Playing at Stamford Bridge will always give me memories from my academy days, as we used to play here, and I know some faces here. But that is football – I need to keep moving. No point looking back too much.”
“Chelsea meant a lot to me when I was a kid. I came here, and they gave me a chance, so for that, I will always be grateful for the opportunity they gave me. Today, I’m at Newcastle, but without that kind of start, I wouldn’t be here.”
Bet on football with 1xBet
Despite being sold against his will, he admits he wants Chelsea to do well and get back to their very best. “I mean, now that we have played them, I can say that I wish them all the best. They are a very good side with a very good manager, and they have invested a lot of money in the squad, so yeah, I can see them doing well. Hopefully, they can do brilliantly this season – only not at our expense.”
When Hall arrived at Newcastle from Chelsea, he barely had a look-in, and even when players were injured, the manager didn’t want to risk him. It has now turned out that it was all part of a grand plan to ensure that he was properly settled and ready to compete before he was signed.
This season, Hall has played every league game and even provided the assist for Alexander Isak's goal at Stamford Bridge. He now reveals that the time spent on the bench was used to ensure that he was learning and preparing for what he’s doing now.
He added: “When I arrived at Newcastle last season, I had to work behind the scenes a lot because we are a top team with a lot of top players. It wasn't because I came from Chelsea that I was going to get the opportunity – that's not how it works. But now, the results are coming, and I’m playing games.
“I think most people look at the development you make as a player, but I think I have improved as a person too. I’m really happy about that because, in the end, it is who we are that reflects our development – not because we play in the Premier League or for a top club, but how we are as human beings and the impact we make.”
Last season, Newcastle missed out on European football by the skin of their teeth, largely due to the strain of Champions League football and their thin squad. This season was supposed to be their comeback, fighting for Champions League qualification again. However, they are now without a win in their last five games, and the defeat to Chelsea has left them 12th on the league table, behind Bournemouth and staring down the barrel.
Asked what he thinks the problem has been, he says it's only a matter of time before they start blowing teams away again. “I think at the start of the season, we were good and showed signs of progress. But in the last four or five games, I admit we haven't won, so it's tough to say we have shown quality. We've just not been able to sustain that throughout the 90 minutes, and that is where the concern lies.
“We have to be able to maintain it for the entire game, but we are working hard, and I’m sure it will click for us. Every team will have a tough period where they might struggle here and there, and this is ours, but hopefully, it won't last too long.”
Bet on football with 1xBet
Hall is just 20, but he’s seen as one of the future stars of the Premier League. His story is an inspiration for thousands of young kids in the academy who want to reach the very top of the Premier League pyramid. He ended the interview by urging them to keep fighting for their dreams but also reminded them that every big dream comes with a big price to pay. He concluded:
“It's tough. I mean, it's not like your everyday life, and most young people want to play here or at this level, so I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say it’s not nice. But that also comes with responsibility, and that is what most people don’t see.
“I have invested everything in my life to get to this level, but that is only the start. I have to ensure that I stay fit, which means eating well, sleeping on time, and all those boring things. So if I were to advise the young ones, I would say that they should know that the biggest prizes come with the biggest sacrifices.”
Bet on football with 1xBet
