Chelsea’s Levi Colwill shares his experience of facing his ‘idol’ Virgil van Dijk for the first time.

**Colwill Reflects on Idol Encounter with Van Dijk in Premier League Opener**

Chelsea’s young defender Levi Colwill has shared his thoughts on a memorable encounter with one of his footballing idols, Virgil van Dijk, during a thrilling 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

The match, which saw Axel Disasi equalise for Chelsea after Luis Diaz had given the visitors an early lead, marked a significant milestone for Colwill, who was making his first-team debut at just 20 years of age. Positioned on the left side of a back three, the young centre-back found himself tasked with the formidable challenge of marking the Liverpool star.

In an interview with DJ Kenny Allstar for TNT Sports, Colwill recounted the moment he faced Van Dijk. “There’s a few, but I’d say last year when we played in the first game of the season,” he began. “I played Virg for the first time and I remember marking him in the box. He said something to me and I think I might have told him to shut up accidentally.”

Colwill recalled the look Van Dijk gave him, saying, “He looked at me like, ‘Who is this little boy?’ and I thought, ‘Ahh I’ve just disrespected him, but it is what it is, my bad.’ It was crazy. I was just looking at him thinking I want to be like that or better when I’m older if I could, but he’s a baller.”

As Chelsea prepares to face Leicester City this Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, Colwill also reflected on his early days in football, particularly his friendship with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala. The two players, who grew up in Southampton, first crossed paths in Sunday League football before forging a strong bond in Chelsea’s youth academy.

“It’s a complicated one,” Colwill explained. “I was playing for a Sunday League team in Southampton, I was playing the year above and something happened. I basically got kicked out because someone snitched to the league or something like that, one of the parents.”

He continued, “So I was in a bit of a situation, so I just left that team and within weeks I was playing for another team. Jam was playing for City Central, the team I started off with. I don’t know how, our dads got in contact or something, but we ended up coming up on trials together here. We drove down this road together on our first day, both from Southampton, and it was just a bond from there.”

Colwill added a touch of serendipity to their friendship, noting, “We found out our birthdays are on the same day, weird stuff, but it brought the bond closer and now he’s just doing his thing.”

Having risen through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, Colwill enjoyed loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion, gaining valuable first-team experience before establishing himself in Chelsea’s senior squad. While Musiala’s career took him to Germany, Colwill affirmed, “There’s always love there” between the two players, who were born just hours apart.

As Colwill looks to make his mark in the Premier League, his journey from idolising Van Dijk to sharing the pitch with him is a testament to his determination and talent.