BILLY’S GRIPPING YARNS
Maguire taught Gilmour harsh lesson
BILLY GILMOUR says he helped to ruin Liverpool’s FA Cup hopes after the short, sharp lesson Harry Maguire gave the 18-yearold midfielder in the school of hard knocks.
The Scotland Under-21 international was man of the match as Chelsea beat the Merseysiders 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
And with Jorginho now suspended and Mateo Kovacic injured, the 5ft 6in Gilmour could be given an extended run in the team.
The former Rangers academy player said that he was first brought up to speed in the Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester October.
After one early challenge, Maguire picked Gilmour up off the ground and shook him by the neck.
“Basically he was saying I’m a wee guy,” said the teenager, right.
“Obviously he is going to try and bully young ones.
“He was pushing me off, gripping me by the throat, and that’s something
United in
I have to deal with. I won’t let that happen again, that’s for sure. That was a lesson. I’ve been working on that and I can only get stronger.” Gilmour produced a spectacular show against Premier League champions-elect Liverpool with fancy footwork. “I wasn’t really nervous,” he said. “I was more looking forward to it, to go and show what I can do. It was a great win and we are in the quarter-finals. And we his beat Liverpool as what’s not to love?”
From the first time he set foot inside the club after leaving Rangers at 16, Gilmour has been told not to be intimidated by the biggest names.
Academy coaches gave him an Individual Action Plan (IAP) and the youngster discovered his task was to study how to become the next Cesc Fabregas.
“When I first came to Chelsea we were given IAPs and you had to focus yourself on that player,” Gilmour well
– said. “Mine was Cesc. I loved how he played.”
Gilmour’s final step will be to graduate to the full Scotland squad. Liverpool left-back and fellow countryman Andy Robertson told the teenager he was on the right lines with national boss Steve Clarke watching.
“I was not aware Steve was in the stands,” Gilmour said.
“I was speaking to Andy and he told me after the game, ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing, you’re doing really well’.