Chelsea starlet Alex Matos has revealed that Mauricio Pochettino was understanding of his decision to leave Stamford Bridge despite his frequent involvement in the first half of the Premier League season. Midfielder Matos has shone on loan at Championship side Huddersfield since joining in January, gaining valuable first-team experience.
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The former Norwich prospect will return to Chelsea with half a season of senior football under his belt. It comes after he took the bold and ultimately fruitful decision to ask Pochettino for a temporary departure in January.
A summer signing from Norwich initially earmarked for Chelsea’s U21 side, Matos impressed enough in pre-season to be part of Pochettino’s plans at the start of the season. The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut in the final minute of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Fulham in October.
Matos was involved in 13 matchday squads in the Premier League and made a further appearance in the Carabao Cup. But the ambitious England youth international wanted more and asked to leave on loan.
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He said of the conversation that led to his exit to Huddersfield: “Mauricio spoke to me a lot when I was at Chelsea. I have a good relationship with him and his coaching staff.
“I had a meeting with him in his office — it was my decision to go see him — and told him I wanted to go out on loan in January.
“I needed first-team minutes, to go out and prove myself. I wasn’t nervous about telling him at all.
“I needed to do it for myself and it was the best decision. I wanted to be honest with him, to tell it to him straight. He accepted and understood. He wants what is best for me.”
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Matos, a versatile player able to feature in midfield or out wide, has played in all but one of Huddersfield’s 17 Championship games since his arrival. He impressed on his debut in an FA Cup defeat against Manchester City.
However, Matos has been unable to arrest Huddersfield’s poor form, despite his own positive individual displays. The West Yorkshire side are 22nd in the Championship, a point from safety with three matches remaining.
Matos is one of several young players to be handed their Chelsea debuts by Pochettino despite an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge for the Argentine. That includes Alfie Gilchrist, who scored his first professional goal in the Blues’ 6-0 thrashing of Everton on Monday.
