Tiemoue Bakayoko admits he cannot replace Nemanja Matic at Chelsea
The former Monaco man's arrival at Stamford Bridge saw the departure of Matic but Bakayoko explains he isn't a like-for-like replacement
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TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO is a fan of his predecessor Nemanja Matic but says his role at Chelsea is not to emulate the Serbian.
The midfielder's £40million arrival at Stanford Bridge saw the departure of Matic for the promise of first team football under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
While the Serbian international quickly found his feet at Old Trafford, it has taken Bakayoko slightly longer to settle into his new club.
The 23-year-old has been hampered by injury since his arrival in London and had a lucky escape when he crashed his car - but Bakayoko may have found his break when he scored his first league goal against Crystal Palace last weekend.
The fiery Frenchman, who credits Blues legend Claude Makelele for his growth in maturity since his switch, says his job is to support the players alongside him not to replicate Matic just because he has replaced him on the pitch.
Bakayoko told Sky Sports: "My role is about linking up well with the player alongside me, whether it's N'Golo or Cesc [Fabregas]. We all know that N'Golo was named the best player in the Premier League, so I've been learning a lot from him.
"I'm not here to do what Matic did. Matic is a player that I really like; he's a very good footballer. I'm here to play my game, to try to implement what the coach asks, which means sticking tight to the opponents' playmaker, getting forward when I can and, above all, controlling the ball well and anticipating the play."
The young Parisian says he is learning from the players around him and who came before him to improve his game.
"I'm trying to show a mix of the two: part of what N'G [Kante] is about and the technique that Matic has. I've watched both players a lot and Chelsea are a club that I've always watched. I watched almost all of the club's games last season.
"I don't want to do what Matic did here just because I play in the same position as him. I'm trying to do what I know how to do and if the coach is happy with that, great. If he isn't, I'll keep working hard to become the player that he wants me to be."
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The midfielder feels this is the beginning of better things to come under the guidance of Conte.
He continued: "Antonio Conte is one of the main reasons why I signed for the club, I knew that he was a coach who'd help me improve in terms of tactical awareness, and who has won many trophies. He has enjoyed success wherever he has been. In tactical terms, I think I've taken on what he expects from the team and his players.
"Now I need to improve on the ball and there are some little details that need to be smoothed out. I'm improving and in a few weeks' time, I hope to be have progressed further in all facets of the game."
