Chelsea fullback Emerson has revealed he is confident of a top-four finish for the club and that this constantly enters the discussion in the Blues dressing room.
Emerson joined the west London side from Roma in January 2018 yet with Marcos Alonso firmly established as the club’s leftback at the time, the Brazil-born Italy international has had to wait for his chance. Almost a year on, the 24-year-old finally seized his opportunity with Maurizio Sarri preferring to rotate him with the Spaniard.
After impressing in the League Cup final against Manchester City, Emerson has emerged as a solid option for Sarri with the ex-Napoli boss electing to start him in two of the last three Premier League games. Having now spent just over a year at the west London side, the Santos youth product reflects on his Premier League experience so far.
“The Premier League is a league like no other,” said the fullback. “It is so competitive, even when you play teams from the lower half of the table you struggle. Every game seems to be a cup final in the Premier League. This is what I’ve learned by being here.”
The fullback, who was signed for £17.6 million in last year’s January transfer window, considers his first start for Chelsea against Burnley away at Turf Moor as his favourite moment in England so far.
“In terms of my favourite moment, it was my debut, the first time I started a game, which was away from home at Burnley. That is something that is going to stay with me forever I think. Now, I try to improve every day and I know that I need to improve every day because I want to stay here and keep playing for Chelsea in the Premier League.”
Having gotten himself into the discussion regarding Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI, Emerson has expressed his confidence in the club making the cut for the Champions League next season.
“I am confident,” continued the Italy international. “That’s what we’re aiming for, the top four. We have a good chance to make it, the other teams competing for the top four, they have to play each other, and we deserve it I think. We have a good chance. The season has not been fantastic, but I think we deserve to be in the top four and we have a good chance to be there.
“It’s very important, not just for me, for everyone. The Champions League is the biggest club competition there is and we always talk in the dressing room about how important it is and that we need to play the Champions League at all costs. So we need to just get there.”
