Tag: Victor Moses

  • Victor Moses reveals how life has changed under Antonio Conte

    Victor Moses reveals how life has changed under Antonio Conte

    The 26-year-old has had a resurgence of his career since being moved to wing back and admits life just doesn’t get better than this both on and off the field.

    Moses pocketed a championship medal, got married, established himself as ‘the indispensable man’ in manager Antonio Conte’s side and helped Nigeria become the first African nation to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

    He said: “For me, its definitely the top – my best year so far, on and off the pitch.”

    Only hiccup is being squeezed out of the to three to become African Player of the Year, behind Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Egypt’s Mo Salah and Sengal’s Sadio Mane – a decision that angered the Nigerian Football Federation.

    Moses would rather claim he was in the running then being over-looked.

    He added: “I must have done well. It felt good to be nominated. I’ve worked so hard. It’s a bit crazy and shows how far I’ve come.”

    Moses had the perseverance to make a success of his Chelsea career despite being continually sent out on loan says a great deal about his character.

    Yet this determination pales into insignificance when compared to the biggest mountain he had to climb.

    Moses was just 11 when he arrived in England as an asylum seeker after both his mother and father were killed during religious clashes in Nigeria in 2002.

    He was playing football in the streets when his parents lost their lives. Just a week later, his remaining family had cobbled together enough money to send him away from his homeland.

    Palace under Neil Warnock gave him his chance. His natural ability showed he would never have been a mid-level journeyman, with mates claiming he would either play Champions League, or on park pitches.

    No-one else at Chelsea can do what he does and without him, Conte’s 3-4-3 system would collapse.

    After spending the previous three seasons being shipped around on loan, it might be a surprise.

    Never able to make much of an impression at Liverpool, Stoke City or West Ham United, Moses looked set to be sold by before Conte arrived. Just another youngster who could not cut it at Chelsea.

    Moses spent most of his career in a more advance role, before settling into a wing-back as Conte dramatically tore up previous manuals and stamped his own authority on the club.

    He said: “Becoming a wing back is not an easy transition. It’s not an easy job and you need stamina to play there.

    “The manager works me on the training ground, and it’s been really good. When you have someone who is really backing you it gives you confidence.”

    He picked up an injury against his former club Palace and was out of the side for six weeks in the autumn, but was recalled the moment he was fit again.

    He added: “It’s been a great year for me. I’ve really enjoyed it, but want to keep it going.”

    After playing for England from U-16 to U-21, Moses opted for the country of his birth and says: “Nigeria were the first African country to qualify for the world cup.

    “We are like Chelsea. We believe in ourselves. Chelsea have loads of games of coming up. We’ve got a great squad, and the manager we have here, we know what we are capable of.”

  • Victor Moses marries mother of his two kids in London

    Nigerian international and Chelsea player, Victor Moses, on Sunday married his long-time partner in London.

    The low-key wedding ceremony comes after Moses won the Premier League alongside his team, Chelsea and a day after being red carded in Chelsea’s FA Cup final 2-1 loss to Arsenal.

    Only a few family members and friends witnessed the ceremony between the couple who already have two children together, a five-year-old son Brentley and a two-year-old daughter Nyah.

    This has been a breakthrough campaign for the 26-year-old Nigeria international, who has finally forced his way into the Chelsea team after being loaned out in the previous three seasons.

  • I’m now enjoying my football under manager Conte, Moses says

    Chelsea’s Nigeria forward Victor Moses on Thursday praised club manager Antonio Conte for resurrecting his career and giving him the “confidence to enjoy his football’’.

    The 26-year-old Moses joined the Blues from Wigan for nine million pounds in 2012 but was loaned out to Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham by former club manager Jose Mourinho.

    But he played 34 times this term in the role of wing-back as Chelsea claimed the English Premier League title with a record 30 wins.

    “I am more focused now than ever. I am enjoying my football again,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria international played 43 games in his first season with the Blues, scoring 10 goals on the way.

    He was part of the 2013 Europa League-winning squad under interim manager Rafael Benitez.

    But the forward failed to play under Mourinho in the Portuguese manager’s second spell at Stamford Bridge, being given temporary moves to three top-flight clubs.

    This season, he was handed a new defensive role as he rejuvenated his Chelsea career, playing an integral role in Italian boss Conte’s first season in charge.

    “We have got a new manager here who is willing to give everyone an opportunity,’’ said Moses.

    “He gave me that opportunity and I didn’t look back after that.

    “I am very pleased with that and I just want to keep improving in every game I play. It is a new role for me and I am still getting used to it,’’ Moses said.

    NAN reports that he could add an FA Cup winners’ medal on Saturday when Chelsea take on London rivals Arsenal in the final match at Wembley.

    “That would be a great achievement for me. We don’t feel any pressure, we are just taking this game as it comes.

    “We have got the league title and they are going to want to win because they missed out on top four. We are going to try and stop them because we want the Double.’’(NAN)