Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu played at centre-back for Wales in their 1-0 win over Finland last night, and it has prompted talk over whether the 19-year-old could be utilised in defence by manager Frank Lampard this season.
The Welshman has generally played in midfield for his country and it was interesting to see him excelling in a different position. Some fans on Twitter think Ampadu could be a solution to the Blues’ problems at the back:
I’ve been saying he’s our missing link at Cb/Dm..
— Greg. (@gregdashsoul) September 3, 2020
He’s better than @ToniRuediger and it’s not even funny
— call me CHELSEA (@Amankwaah69) September 3, 2020
Had a decent game for us at CB looked comfortable at left centre back spraying the ball about with confidence and marshalled an inexperienced defensive line fairly well and clean sheet to boot
— Simon SB (@CarefreeSSB) September 3, 2020
I personally saw Ampadu as the future 6, but if he can do a job at CB too..?
— AVI (@AVI_A98) September 3, 2020
He’s the reason we don’t need to spend on Rice
— Mwanangwa (@ZombeMwanangwa) September 3, 2020
Ampadu bossed the game, Smooth passes & Solid interceptions!!
— Ochestrated (@OcheOdaudu) September 3, 2020
He played really well. Really solid.
Even though I think he’s better at DM, he was great at CB too.
Can’t wait for him to show how good he is this season.— ReeceJamesSZN (@ReeceJamessSZN) September 3, 2020
I genuinely don’t understand why he would be loaned out, class act
— Patrick ?? (@Patrick_mce) September 3, 2020
I will keep crying it
Ampadu and T.Silva partnership is the best we can have this season. Many people still don’t know how good Ethan is.
— Caleb (@fsix_caleb) September 3, 2020
Ampadu spent last season out on loan at RB Leipzig but he struggled to get game time at the Bundesliga club. He started just two matches under manager Julian Nagelsmann.
However, he would be an interesting alternative to the likes of Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen who have all shown they have weaknesses in their game.
Partnering Ampadu with the experienced Thiago Silva would be an intriguing prospect, and supporters will be keen to find out who Lampard favours as his strongest centre-back pairing.