Ato Ampah, who has been with Chelsea since joining the club from grassroots football at Under-11s level, is focused on the match ahead, as he sees it as a chance to prove his capabilities both to the audience and to himself. That first opportunity to show what he can do at this level is a big one, too, as we host reigning Premier League champions Tottenham in a home derby at Kingsmeadow, with tickets still available to cheer on the young Blues.
Following the 18-year-old's success in the 2023/24 season, where he helped lift the Under-18 Premier League South trophy under Hassan Sulaiman, Ampah has moved up the age groups and is now working under newly appointed Under-21s head coach Filipe Coelho.
After a successful pre-season, which included a summer training camp in Portugal and matches against sides from League One and League Two, the winger believes he is ready for the new season to begin and eager to take this opportunity.
'I'm looking forward to the challenges,' Ampah began. 'Everyone in the squad is in the right place mentally and physically for the league to start, thanks to pre-season. We are all ready for the game and any obstacles that might come our way.
'During pre-season, I've played well, and I feel like my confidence has grown massively. Getting minutes in before the league starts is important as it reminds you of the competitive nature and how quick the play is.
'I always reflect on my performances, whether in training or games, as that’s how you develop and grow as a player. Having the opportunity and resources to do that makes me even more confident going into the Tottenham game, and confidence is key.
'I'm harsh on myself and my performances because you have to be if you want to be the best version of yourself. Identifying areas where you can improve or do things differently is how you progress and learn from your mistakes.
'I always want to achieve a lot and set high standards and expectations for myself. That mindset keeps me pushing for more and constantly improving my performance.
'As a player, I am very clinical and pay attention to every detail. I know what I'm capable of and what my top performance looks like. So, during this Tottenham game, I need to prove to myself that I can push those limits.'
Following the appointment of Coelho as head coach of the Under-21s over the summer, Ampah speaks highly of the Portuguese coach’s style. After getting to know Coelho over the weeks leading up to the season, the squad hopes that the performance against Spurs will reflect the lessons learned under his guidance.
'Filipe is an excellent coach. He has taken the time to get to know us on a personal level and understands our strengths and how we can utilise them even more throughout the games.
'He is getting us to play good football. He is giving everyone the chance to express themselves on the pitch in a collaborative and dominating way.
'I really enjoy playing under him, and I'm looking forward to what Friday night brings. Hopefully, it's the three points that we all deserve, including him.'
Focusing on our opponents, Tottenham, the 2023/24 Premier League 2 champions, Ampah acknowledges the talent within their squad. However, reflecting on Chelsea's ongoing work throughout pre-season, he is confident there is no reason the side can't secure all three points on home turf.
'Tottenham and Chelsea have a lot of history between them, I don't think we could have asked for a better opening game!
'Starting the season with such an intense match is a great test to see how we perform individually and how we work together as a team.
'Tottenham, having won the league, will come into this game with confidence. However, we have been training hard and working on our mentality as well, so it will be a close game.
'We have a strong team and I'm confident that if we play as we have been in training, we will dominate. We are not messing around.'
Get down to Kingsmeadow
Tickets are available here to watch Chelsea Under-21s in Premier League 2 action for the first time this season, priced £7 for adults and £5 for junior or senior supporters.