Bamford: "When I first signed for Chelsea I said I wanted to stay there for my whole career&quo
Patrick Bamford hasn't had the best of seasons. Coming off a fantastic 2014/15 season in which he won Champions Player of the Season, scored 19 goals in all competition and took Middlesbrough to a League play-off final, this season has been less eventful. Crystal Palace won the battle against a host of teams to sign Bamford on loan, but Alan Pardew mismanaged the striker until Bamford cut his loan short and left in January. Norwich then signed the striker and Bamford sat down to talk with IamUK about his experience.
"When I first signed for Chelsea I said I wanted to stay there for my whole career and obviously that might not end up being my decision, but I had the same mentality when I signed my extension last summer so I plan to develop and grow and hopefully earn the role," said the Champions Player of the Season.
"I think Ruben has been very patient and I think he will, maybe not this season but next season, definitely get more playing time. It shows that there’s different ways to do it. He stayed around and came through the U-21’s to the first team and there are others like me who have gone out on loan to do it through a different route. I think the end aim is still to end up playing for Chelsea, it’s just different paths."
"You learn something different from every manager because everyone has a different style and then playing men’s football makes a big difference from the boys’ game you’re playing previously. I think the major difference and effect tho is just playing games. It does matter to a certain extent what level you play at but most important is getting game time, that’s how you develop. You can practice as much as you want in training but it’s different when you play in a game. Game time is crucial."
Bamford has yet to be called up for the England national team and he goes on to express his desires to play for his country.
"It’s a massive deal for me. I think that is probably one of the biggest achievements an English player can get, representing their country. From there you go on to winning trophies, which of course we haven’t been great at. First of all for me it’s making a name for myself in the premier League and then once you do that, well if you look at Deli Alli, he’s done that and he’s been rewarded by getting the call-up."
Bamford also takes positives from Chelsea's poor season and thinks it'll be an opportunity for others. "I think it will help players like me and a couple other young players who haven’t really been given a look-in. I also think that if they don’t make the Champions League that may force a few players to move on, opening up some positions. It’s going to be huge [John Terry leaving]. He had such a good input in the club, he linked all the players despite the fact that he spoke English and no other languages. He was that tight knot at the club and his leaving shows how Chelsea is changing."
