'I’d seen two sides' - Como's Trevoh Chalobah explains benefit of Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town spells
Como and England defender Trevoh Chalobah has discussed his loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town
Former Huddersfield Town loanee Trevoh Chalobah has credited his temporary spells away from Chelsea as a youngster for building his experience.
The 27-year-old plies his trade in Serie A with Como, who completed a remarkable 4-1 rout of Manchester United in the Champions League last night (October 21).
Chalobah, who is a senior England international, joined the Italian outfit from Chelsea in the summer.
He is now a high-profile figure but was a relatively inexperienced operator when he was loaned to Ipswich Town, Huddersfield and Lorient in his youth.
The defender spent the 2019/20 season in Yorkshire, making 38 appearances for the Terriers as they successfully avoided relegation from the Championship.
Trevoh Chalobah salutes loans
He told The Athletic: “Going on loans three years in a row helped. It built my experience as a player on and off the pitch: how to live, how to carry yourself and do the extras, like investing in yourself.
“It didn’t come naturally. I had to work, whether that meant using analysis, a chef or a personal trainer. I just followed Cristiano Ronaldo’s steps - he’s one of the greatest ever in terms of how a footballer should live, how they should work. I used him to master my craft.
“After the loan, I came back to Chelsea and made my debut. It’s been an unbelievable journey, from not liking football to then being here.”
Contrasting experiences
Chalobah experienced plenty during his three early spells away from Stamford Bridge. First came relegation from the second tier with Ipswich before survival with Huddersfield.
Then came his first taste of overseas football with Lorient, for whom he made 30 appearances.
He said: “The first two or three months at Ipswich were tough. I’d gone from academy football to the Championship, which is strong, physical. I had to adapt to two games per week but the players helped. I knew I was good, but I had to adapt to a game where there were long balls, second balls. I was playing in midfield, out of position. I was a centre-back in the middle of the pitch.
“At Chelsea you won every week, at Ipswich we did not. It was a test but it was needed. Men’s football. An important skipper, senior boys shouting, angry because of the game you played. You don’t see that in academy football.
“At Ipswich we needed points but we didn’t get enough. Relegation… seeing those faces in the dressing room. It was the same at Huddersfield but there we managed to stay up. I’d seen two sides of football.
“Then I went to France with Lorient, to play teams like Paris Saint-Germain and push myself further in a different type of football. I learned French, but I’ve forgotten a lot of it. I’d cycle to training, lived by the beach. Amazing. It was also Covid-19 time, with nothing else to do but concentrate on football. I really kicked on.”