By Betsefy
Armando Broja has suggested that he wasted no time in signing a six-year contract at Chelsea when provided with the opportunity in the summer.
Throughout the most recent transfer window, Broja was heavily linked with a transfer away from Stamford Bridge, the indication being that he had no intention of becoming a bit-part player.
However, despite reports to the contrary, the academy graduate penned a deal until 2028 at the beginning of September after remaining as a substitute throughout the opening month of the season.
Although Broja has featured for Chelsea on 14 occasions during 2022-23, his only start came against Brentford in the Premier League earlier this month.
In total, the 21-year-old has been provided with 278 minutes of football in the top flight and Champions League, his solitary goal coming against Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 8.
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Despite constant talk about his future and a lack of substantial game time since the start of August, the Albania international has said that he jumped at the chance to commit to the West Londoners.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Broja said: “There’s always talk. You see it at every club. I was just focused on getting ready for the season and showing the manager what I can do. I wasn’t really too sure what was going on outside.
When pushed on whether he viewed penning fresh terms as “a gamble”, Broja told reporters: “No. I see it as a massive opportunity for me. This is my boyhood club. I want to do my best and give it my all to break into the starting lineup.
“For me, it’s a big stepping stone from where I was last season to where I am now. That’s my aim, to get better. There’s not many better clubs to learn.”
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Head coach Graham Potter is expected to hand Broja his second Chelsea start in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against Dinamo Zagreb.
However, the Englishman hinted at the same press conference that he would not necessarily make wholesale changes from the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Potter said: “I think we have to have respect for the competition and respect for the teams. We have to prepare to win. We want to respond from the disappointment at the weekend. We’ll pick a team that we think can win.
“I don’t think it’s a time to use young players for the sake of it. A lot of them have been impressive, I like the character and they’ve had a role in what we do here.”
While Chelsea have already progressed to the last 16 as group winners, Zagreb can still finish in third spot if they win in England’s capital and Red Bull Salzburg lose at AC Milan.
