EVERYTHING MATOS
It’s all or nothing for Alex
HUDDERSFIELD v WEST BROM Tomorrow, 12pm, Sky Sports ALEX MATOS caught Mauricio Pochettino’s eye by leaving everything out on the pitch and getting in the faces of Chelsea’s stars in training.
Inspired by his father Jorge, Huddersfield’s on-loan midfielder Matos, 19, has made a habit of making an impression and Pochettino will vouch for that.
Following his under-the-radar summer arrival, head coach Pochettino took a liking to Matos, including him regularly in his match-day squads and handing the youngster his Premier League debut against Fulham in October
“When I was training over there I just took it to 100 per cent,” said Matos.
“I left it all out there on the pitch every day, found myself in the squad and got a debut. I gave it to the players, was up in their faces, just around them.
“It’s just football, though, never more than that. You don’t get this chance every day.
“That determination comes from my father. He always spurred me on, instilled that fire in my belly.
“When he speaks I know I have to deliver. When he got the message about Chelsea he said, ‘It’s time’.”
That was when Matos earned a trial at Chelsea after deciding to leave Norwich. And he quickly convinced the Blues to sign him after shining during a practice game alongside World Cup winner N’Golo Kante (inset), who he has been likened to.
“I have seen them (the comparisons) and I see why,” Matos added. “I love to put myself about, always go in for a challenge, to run, work hard for the team.
“I try to look at his qualities as much as possible because he was a very important player for Chelsea. It was absolutely unreal to play next to him.
“After the game I got told I was going to get signed. It was amazing.”
To continue his development, Matos followed a well-trodden path by joining Huddersfield from Stamford Bridge in January. Current Blues stars Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill are among those who enjoyed similar spells and Matos received a positive reference about the Terriers when he spoke to the latter after deciding his next destination.
He started the first nine games of his loan, claiming successive man-of-the-match awards along the way.
And Matos added: “I just need to finish the season strongly and hopefully help the team stay up.”