Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has revealed that two Chelsea legends warned that he would struggle in the Premier League.
The Senegalese centre-half, who joined this summer from Napoli, has been a key aspect of Chelsea's team under both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter this season.
To the surprise of some, he's barely put a foot wrong since arriving in west London and he's now revealed which former Chelsea stars suggested he would 'have a hard time' in England.
Talking to Corriere della Sera, Koulibaly said: ‘The beauty of football is also this, I arrive with a coach who wanted me at all costs and then he leaves.
‘Both Tuchel and Potter play with the three-man defence. At Napoli I was used to playing with a four-man backline. It’s another arrow that I put in my bow, you never stop learning.
‘I knew I was going to have a hard time, and it has been this way. Even Zola, Drogba had anticipated it would be and told me.’
Though Chelsea have had a turbulent campaign so far, Koulibaly has been one of their better performers and has quickly convinced fans of his defensive abilities.
The Blues have kept four clean sheets in the eight Premier League games which he has started and the 31-year-old even chipped in with a goal against Spurs in August.
Expanding on his move from Napoli, he continued: ‘I believe in destiny. My period was over, I had given everything. From the point of view of emotions it changes little. I feel every goal, every victory, as if I lived them first hand.
‘Do you know what I’m talking about in the Chelsea locker room? Of the victories of my former teammates. And do you know why? I’m proud of it. I often hear from Anguissa and Osimhen. I have also exchanged messages with Kvara, whom I don’t know yet.’
Chelsea fans will be excited to hear that their centre-half has been texting Napoli's rising star Khvicha 'Kvara' Kvaratskhelia - who is one of the hottest talents in Europe.
Both Zola and Drogba will be well aware of the difficulties in transitioning to the Premier League having done the same in their respective careers.
Zola joined the Blues from Italian side Parma in 1996 and saw an immediate drop-off in his output in-front of goal. He scored 49 goals in 102 games for the Serie A side but could only manage 59 goals in 229 appearances at Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Drogba mustered just 10 goals in his maiden season for the Blues compared to the 19 he had scored for Marseille in the season prior.
Koulibaly has missed Chelsea's last three games through injury though Blues boss Potter hinted that he may be available for their clash with RB Salzburg tomorrow.
