Chavarria: The Premier League is the best in the world, it's the best league for my playing style

According to Chelsea's official website, full-back Chavarria reflected on his experiences since joining Chelsea in an exclusive interview, discussing what it's like to play under Enzo Maresca and adapt to the Premier League.

Chavarria was born in Figueres, a small Catalan town that is also the birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. His journey from his hometown's Spanish fourth-tier team to Stamford Bridge has been somewhat surreal for him.

Chavarria did not take the conventional route to the top flight. He made his first-team debut at age 18 for semi-professional side Figueres, then gradually climbed the Spanish football pyramid, not making his LaLiga debut until he was 24.

After that, he spent four seasons at Rayo Vallecano, making 125 appearances and gradually developing into a dynamic, attacking full-back. This earned him the biggest transfer of his career to date – joining Chelsea this summer.

Now, Chavarria has made his Chelsea debut in August and is beginning to settle into life in England. He is determined to seize this opportunity. Speaking about his first few weeks at the club, Chavarria said: "It's incredible. Coming to this great club, my teammates have given me a warm welcome. I'm very happy with everything, and the staff have also shown me a lot of care."

Chavarria also added: "There are many top players here, they are very competitive and have a strong mentality. I like that because I can learn from it. It's a pleasure to play with such players, and playing alongside the best helps you improve."

Moving to a new country can often be unsettling, but Chavarria quickly found people to help him adapt. One of them is Caicedo, who is both a teammate and a mentor for Chavarria as he adjusts to life in England.

Speaking in his already quite fluent English, Chavarria said: "Moi has been with me all the time and is now teaching me English because I need to learn." He takes English lessons every week and hopes to be fluent by the end of the season.

After leaving the Cobham training ground, Chavarria has also started exploring his new surroundings with family and friends, visiting some famous London landmarks. He said: "In the first few days, I stayed with my family and friends. For example, we went to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the London Eye. It's an amazing city."

Currently, Chavarria lives not far from the Cobham training ground, enjoying both the hustle and bustle of London and the quieter atmosphere of the Surrey countryside. His career has always been built on hard work, patience, and a desire for continuous improvement.

Chavarria's path to Chelsea may have been unusual, but his playing style seems well-suited to the Premier League. He quickly discovered that the intensity of English football matches his characteristics.

Chavarria said: "I think the Premier League right now is the best league in the world. It's fast-paced, high-quality, and the players are all excellent. I think it's the best league for my style of play because I'm very dynamic, I like to run between both boxes, and I like to give my all for the team."

"LaLiga is more structured and tactical, while here, players have stronger individual abilities and there's more physical contact. The Premier League is harder because every team has excellent players. Even teams at the bottom of the league can beat those at the top. You have to be at your best against top players; here, if you lose concentration, you can lose the game in an instant. You always have to stay focused."

Chavarria's journey at Chelsea also has a familiar element. Like him, Xavi Alonso's senior career began outside Spain's top division. The player who would later win the World Cup and European Championship initially played for Real Sociedad B in Spain's second tier before rising to the elite of world football.

Now, the two work together at Chelsea, with Alonso hoping to leverage Chavarria's qualities and help him establish himself at Stamford Bridge. Chavarria said: "Xavi is one of the best coaches in the world right now. I've learned a lot, and I know he wants to help me. I'm learning and adapting very well. I feel like I can do even more and continue to improve."

"He wants me to be dynamic in both attack and defence. We also have many ways to approach games. I think this is a very complete team."

For Chavarria, who dreamed of reaching the highest stage since childhood, putting on the Chelsea shirt and playing at Stamford Bridge has been a special experience. He first made his Chelsea debut away against Fulham, then started in the Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town, experiencing the Stamford Bridge atmosphere.

Chavarria said: "This stadium is incredible. I watched many games on TV when I was young, and I always remembered those images. Now I say, 'Wow, I'm here.' You can really feel the energy and atmosphere."

"The fans are amazing, I'm so happy when I see them, and I can't help but say, 'Wow.' This shirt, this stadium, everything is just incredible – it feels particularly wonderful."

Chavarria has every reason to be proud of his journey. He has played at every level of the Spanish football pyramid, earned his LaLiga chance at Rayo Vallecano, and even helped the team reach a European final before joining Chelsea.

His career has been built on resilience and persistence, not a direct path through an academy. Now, Chavarria is determined to continue his story. He said: "I want to win trophies, that's my goal. I also hope to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea is one of the best clubs in the world and should win a trophy and play in the Champions League every year."

Chavarria also has a long-cherished personal goal that is now within reach. He said: "First, to win a trophy, then to get into the national team." He then added: "But for me, the most important thing is the club."

For a player who has climbed through the ranks of Spanish football step by step to reach this point, being called up to the Spanish national team would be another significant milestone. Chavarria knows that the path to his next dream begins with his performances at Chelsea.

Chavarria said: "I think we will bring victories, and the fans will be happy to win some trophies." From Figueres to Olot, Zaragoza, and then Rayo Vallecano, Chavarria has proven that patience, determination, and hard work can take him far. At Stamford Bridge, the latest chapter of this journey has just begun.

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