Kurt Zouma

Kick wrote:Focus on a CM and Drogba and we're done

Zouma wrote:[Mourinho] told me, 'Varane, I made him start straightaway against City. You have to be ready at any time.'

"I take Varane and Eliaquim Mangala as models. Today, they're in the senior team. I hope to join them. Euro 2016 is an objective I have set myself. Even if places will be hard-earned, I'm aware of that. The door is not far."

"When I was at Saint-Etienne and I didn't play, I immediately got annoyed. But I've learned. Now, there are experienced players, stars in my position, and they do very good work. I take my time. I learn alongside these defenders. I know my time will come."

"They're great players that you see on TV, that you choose on PlayStation. At the start, you almost say to yourself that you can't even approach them."

"Diego Costa, he's very, very crazy. Sometimes, he gives me a little tap on the back of the head, and says: 'Let me past'. Ivanovic also makes jokes. In the squad, they have a bit of laugh at me, about my age. Because I'm a big, solid guy of 19."

"Even the coach once, he made fun of me. There was a blood test, and he told me jokingly: 'Now we'll see if you've lied about your age.' But honestly, they're cool, they are open."

Holland wrote:"Kurt is a player who has waited patiently for a chance to play."

"We have talked about him for games in the Premier League although he hasn't yet. He is in the discussions. He is not an inexperienced kid. He has played games for St-Etienne both as a right-back and centre-back, he is a France Under-21 international in a strong group, and tonight without being particularly tested he was immaculate. What he did have to do he dealt with comfortably and being a threat in the opposition penalty box is a big bonus for a centre-back."

‘There will be more difficult tests ahead for him but he did everything that was asked of him tonight..."

"In the film, he helps everyone and is super strong. So my parents decided that if they gave me that name I'd be hard and always have a smile. Apparently it worked."

"It was a good opportunity for Zouma. It was very good for him. He is playing very well every time he plays. Today against Tottenham it was a good test for him. He will be a big player for Chelsea."

"People look at his body and forget his age, but he’s a kid. He came on at half-time in a difficult situation, when Tottenham were behind and trying to push [for a goal], and the kid for me played a fantastic 45 minutes."

"I’ve played with Kurt a few times now and it has always gone well. I move over to the left side which changes the picture slightly in terms of my positioning and my outlook, but it doesn’t really change anything in what I’m doing as a defender."

"When I play with JT he’s always on the left but I’ve had a few games there now when I’ve played with Kurt and it’s been fine. I thought he played well as did the rest of the squad."

"They [Chelsea's defenders last night] have all played in the Champions League, obviously Kurt less so but they have the experience of playing in different leagues in Europe and against opposition from around the continent. It’s great to work with these guys."

"[The French League Cup final] was the biggest game I've ever played in. It was my first final, and the club hadn't won any trophies before that for 32 years."

"I was not nervous, I was relaxed. We played a very good game and we won 1-0 [against Rennes] but it was difficult."

"When you play the final you just want to win the game. We forgot the importance of the game and just played to win the title."

"All our supporters were so happy after. When we came through the city on the bus it was absolutely crazy, everybody was screaming, some people were crying! It was very emotional."

"It was amazing for me to play this game and then also to win it. I hope I will win more titles here at Chelsea."

"He was just a bit dizzy."

"The stretcher-carriers came out walking. When a player is injured and the body language is that he has to go out I feel a bit frustrated."

"The people with the stretcher want to help and if they didn’t run I have to believe that is the instruction they have."

‘I think we clashed with heads. I had a huge hit on my right side. I was looking where the ball goes and it was a punch so I was happy with that.’

‘But then I saw him lying on the floor. I was a bit concerned because we collided with a heavy clash. It was lucky he hit my helmet because the impact would have been much bigger.’

‘I think the helmet saved him – me as well – because he hit most of the helmet and took away a little bit of the impact.’

‘He’s fine. The medical staff did really well to assess the situation. In this kind of clash you never know. He did not look so good to continue’

‘Obviously it was the right choice. Now he is all clear hopefully. He was sitting there (in the dressing room) happy we won the game.’