Chelsea boss Maresca 'light years' ahead - Colwill

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill says manager Enzo Maresca is "light years above everyone else" in the way that he thinks about football.

The England centre-back, 22, has played 25 times for the Blues this season in Maresca's first season in charge.

They are in the hunt for the Champions League places, sitting fifth in the Premier League table.

Colwill spoke to BBC Football Focus about a range of topics - and you can watch the interview in full on BBC One at 12:00 BST on Saturday.

BBC Sport has some of the highlights here.

'Blessed' to play under Maresca

Italian Maresca, 45, was Manchester City assistant boss before winning promotion to the Premier League with Leicester last season.

He swapped the King Power Stadium for Stamford Bridge in the summer.

"I think with Maresca, the way he thinks about football is light years above everyone else," said Colwill.

"Of course, I have been blessed with loads of different managers that have been amazing.

"He is pushing me to understand football in a different way. That's why I'm very blessed to play football under him and learn as much as possible."

Colwill has also played under Carlos Corberan, Graham Potter, Roberto de Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley.

'Animals' from Chelsea's academy

Colwill has been at Chelsea since under-nine level.

"I came through with the likes of Jamal Musiala, Tina Livramento, Myles Peart-Lewis, Lewis Bate. My age group was amazing. You can see the difference between Chelsea academy players and others," he said.

"The treatment you get at Chelsea, they turn you into animals.

"These players coming up now are different. I don't know what's been done there.

"Shim [Shim Mheuka] just made his debut for us.

"Ty [Tyrique George], he's just electric and you've got Josh [Acheampong] who's going to be one of the best defenders."

The centre-back revealed the extra meaning his goal in the recent 4-0 win over hometown club Southampton had for him.

"I don't think many people understand as a kid that's all I dreamed about scoring against Southampton for Chelsea," he said.

"Growing up I wasn't the biggest fan of Southampton. All my mates were Southampton fans and they'd be getting on to me.

"Before I joined Chelsea I was in Southampton's academy and they were pushing me in the development a bit.

"The love Chelsea gave me when they came in for me, there were levels to it."

Huddersfield 'formed me into the man I am'

Levi Colwill impressed at Huddersfield in the Championship

Colwill's first experience of first-team football was for then Championship side Huddersfield on loan in 2021-22.

The Terriers finished third and lost the play-off final 1-0 to Nottingham Forest - with Colwill scoring an own goal.

"They formed me into the man I am today," he said. "I picked up the values of life being in the changing room with different players.

"I was 18, I was still a young boy. Being in the first-team changing room with amazing players.

"We were driving together and I think that's what made me believe in having such a strong changing room. I thought we were amazing.

"I loved every part of it from scoring in the Champ to losing in the play-off final, but I wouldn't change anything because that's how I make my journey."

The following season he went to Brighton as they finished sixth in the Premier League, their best-ever finish.

"Brighton was top," he said.

"De Zerbi came in, we didn't get on at the start, but now he's like a father figure to me.

"He was amazing, he broke my character first and then made me back up to be a player I couldn't imagine being before."

Living 'dream' of playing for England

Levi Colwill has played four times for the England senior team

Colwill played for England at various youth levels before making his senior debut in 2023 and has won four caps so far.

"It's a dream to be in there and hopefully I'll be picked," he said of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad.

"To go and play for my country again, you can never take that feeling away.

"Every time you play for them something grows in you that you want to play again."

Colwill was part of the England team who won the Under-21 European Championship in 2023..

"A few of the boys have been in the first-team squad with me, we know what it takes to try and win trophies," he said.

"Hopefully, in the future we can win a trophy for England."

On his role with Sholing FC

Colwill is an associate director with seventh-tier Sholing FC, a team based in a suburb of Southampton.

He was a mascot in the 2014 FA Vase final when Sholing beat West Auckland Town at Wembley.

Three of his uncles have played for Sholing and his brother JJ currently does too.

"It's another opportunity for young kids who maybe have been released from an academy who can believe in themselves and start playing football," said Colwill of his project.

"I think it'll be an amazing opportunity for them to maybe break into the first team.

"There's so many amazing players out there that haven't been given an opportunity."