‘It kills everything’ – Levi Colwill out to prove he can be a Premier League great after Chelsea star’s injury hell

LEVI COLWILL is out to prove he can be a Premier League great after feeling “helpless” last season. The Chelsea defender suffered a horror ACL injury on day one of pre-season last summer and was only fit for the final four games of a season in which the Blues had three managers and slumped to a 10th place finish. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill wants to become a Prem icon after missing most of last season Credit: Getty The centre-back ruptured his ACL in pre-season last year but is looking to make up for lost time Credit: Getty Colwill‘s ACL rupture robbed Chelsea of a key figure in their Club World Cup triumph, as well as preventing him from making his Champions League debut and having a shot at making England‘s World Cup squad. Now, aiming for a full pre-season, the academy graduate wants to take his game to the next level. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! Colwill, 23, said: “When you can’t do anything to affect the game on the pitch, you feel helpless and that’s how I felt at times. “You tell yourself everything happens for a reason but you start doubting yourself. “You come off winning the Club World Cup feeling on top of the world and then an injury like that happens. “It kills everything, kills the momentum and you’re out for a long time. “But you’ve got to stay positive, you’ve got to believe in yourself and trust the process, which I’ve done. “I felt like that helped me a lot when I came back for the last few games of the season, to be strong and hungry to be the best player I can be and help the team as much as possible. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Colwill has admitted his injury hell ‘killed’ his momentum after winning the Club World Cup Credit: Getty “I know my targets in my head. I want to take my game to the next level this year. I want to be regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the league this year, 100 per cent. “From the last three games I played last season, the quality I showed proves that I can be, but I’ve just got to be consistent and show it throughout the season. “Hopefully I can help my team and lead them on to good things this year.” Colwill’s return, along with the appointment of Xabi Alonso has the potential to transform the Blues. With no European football, Alonso has plenty of time to work with his new squad across the season and the players are not putting a limit on their ambitions. Asked if the easier calendar can help the Blues challenge Premier League champions Arsenal, Colwill added: “I feel like we can challenge. Colwill has hailed the arrival of new boss Xabi Alonso and says he will give him ‘freedom’ Credit: Getty The defender is confident the team can challenge Arsenal for the title this season Credit: Getty “The players we’ve got in our team are ready to do that. Having a manager of this quality now, when it all comes together we’re definitely going to be able to challenge and push for the Premier League. “It’s an honour to play under a manager like Alonso. He’s been so good so far. “Especially for players like me, even as a defender, being able to have the freedom to play passes and show off your qualities on the ball. “That’s what I want to do as a defender. I like to create attacks and show off my passing range, which he allows me to do. “Training sessions have been good and hopefully we can take that into tomorrow and show everyone how much we’ve improved. “I’ve played under a lot of managers who want you to be in the right position and be really rigid. “But with him it’s more about playing what you see, finding the spaces and really exploiting them with pace, which has worked so far and hopefully it carries on.” Comment now