Photo: Werner100359 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Reggie Watson became the only player to start and complete Chelsea's pre-season victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, the 16-year-old midfielder playing the full 90 minutes during the club's ongoing tour of Australia.
"I didn't know I was going to play 90 minutes against Western Sydney Wanderers. I'm certainly feeling it today – I'm knackered! – but it was an incredible experience," Watson said.
Watson, who has travelled with the first-team squad as part of a group of Chelsea Academy players, said he blocked out his surroundings during the match. "I'll admit, though, that I didn't quite take in the stadium or the crowd on the night. I was locked in on my performance and making sure I did my best to help the team because, even in pre-season, we want to win."
The midfielder credited late substitutes for helping him see out the game. "The substitutes that came on – unbelievable players – made it easier for me to ride through to the end," he said.
Watson described working under manager Xabi Alonso as a formative experience. "I've watched Xabi Alonso clips on YouTube growing up; now I'm getting passes from him in training. He is still an unbelievable player and he understands my position so well," Watson said.
The 16-year-old is the son of former professional Ben Watson, who scored the winning goal for Wigan Athletic in the 2013 FA Cup final against Manchester City. Reggie said his father watches every game he plays and has been a major influence on his development.
The open training session in Sydney drew a large crowd, something Watson said caught him off guard. "We had an open training session on Monday and there were so many fans in the stadium. They were all going crazy," he said.