William Gallas has voiced his concerns over Levi Colwill’s struggles in Chelsea’s defence, citing the 21-year-old’s lack of experienced mentorship as a major issue.
Despite Chelsea’s heavy investment in defence over the past 18 months, the team has mostly brought in inexperienced centre-backs, leaving Colwill to lead the line after Thiago Silva’s departure last season.
Tosin Adarabioyo joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham during the summer but is already rumored to be attracting interest from Brighton.
Without a veteran leader at the heart of the defence, Colwill has taken on a role many feel he is not yet ready for.
Speaking to Prime Casino, Gallas said, “Levi Colwill is just 21. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t spend another year or two playing alongside someone like Thiago Silva. With Silva’s guidance, he could have developed into a monster.
Right now, he’s forced to be the boss of the defence, but he’s still too young and focused on his own game rather than managing the backline.”
Gallas drew parallels with Liverpool’s success, highlighting how Virgil van Dijk has mentored Ibrahima Konaté. “Van Dijk has nurtured Konaté and helped him reach the next level. Liverpool now has a strong defensive partnership because of that mentorship.
When van Dijk eventually leaves, Konaté will take over as the leader and mentor the next generation. That’s how great defences evolve,” he explained.
In contrast, Gallas expressed disappointment in Colwill’s progress, stating, “He’s played a lot of games for Chelsea, but I haven’t seen significant improvement. If he had someone like van Dijk or Silva to learn from, he’d be on track to becoming one of the best central defenders in England.”
Chelsea’s focus on signing young talent may need to shift toward securing an experienced defender who can guide Colwill and provide the stability their backline is currently missing.