Paulo Ferreira gave an interview recently, and in the interview, when he was questioned about his thoughts on three players of Azkals who have come from Chelsea’s academy –Phil, James Younghusband and Neil Etheridge.
He was asked this question because of the reason that Ferreira is Chelsea’s Brand Ambassador at the present time and also the Assistant Technical Loan Player Coach. One of his responsibilities in the team is to monitor and assist a group of players when they are away”. Replying to this question, Ferreira said, “I am happy to know that Younghusband brothers, Phil and James and Neil Etheridge the three ex-Chelsea FC Academy players, are making the Philippines proud with their best performances.”
The Younghusband brothers, both have been known as the Philippine football faces. On the other hand, Neil Etheridge, the Azkals goalkeeper on the coming season, will make his first foray in the English Premier League (EPL). Moreover, he is also the first player from South East Asian who is going to play for the league, after the club of Etheridge; the Cardiff City has got promoted to English Premier League (EPL). In this Etheridge is playing an important role in keeping an impressive 19 clean sheets for his club.
After that historic win of Azkals that made them to qualify for the Asian Cup in last March, The Chelsea tweeted, “Phil Younghusband made the decisive goal in Filipino football for this landmark event, when his brother James came on, Neil Etheridge was in goal. All three players are former blues from the academy.”