Baker: Strength in depth
Baker: Strength in depth
news
Mon 23 May 2016
Lewis Baker scored the winning goal for
England Under-21s last week and our young midfielder has spoken about
that success ahead of the young Lions next game in the Toulon Tournament
tonight (Monday).
Baker was one of four Chelsea starters for Gareth Southgate’s side in Thursday night’s opener against Portugal, alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathaniel Chalobah and Kasey Palmer, a debutant at that level.
Baker scored the only goal midway through the second half, turning in Loftus-Cheek’s centre from close range. The 21-year-old, who spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, also forced the Portuguese keeper into three first-half saves.
‘I got into a good scoring position and just finished the rest,’ said Baker.
‘I was glad to get one, but we got the three points and that was the main thing. It was a difficult game in the conditions with the wind, but we pulled through to get the goal that we needed for the three points and we start off the tournament with a win.
‘We could have played a bit better, but with the conditions we did our best and our best was good enough.’
England, for whom Steve Holland assists Gareth Southgate, play their second game tonight against Guinea. It is the first of three fixtures in five days in the south of France and Southgate has said he hopes every member of his 20-man group will start at least one fixture to cope with the congestion.
‘We’ve been able to rest up, and we’ve got the squad to change things about,’ Baker agreed.
‘As we saw [against Portugal], the subs came on and made a difference and it’s the same throughout the squad – we have good strength in depth and that’s what we’re going to need.’
Baker was one of four Chelsea starters for Gareth Southgate’s side in Thursday night’s opener against Portugal, alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathaniel Chalobah and Kasey Palmer, a debutant at that level.
Baker scored the only goal midway through the second half, turning in Loftus-Cheek’s centre from close range. The 21-year-old, who spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, also forced the Portuguese keeper into three first-half saves.
‘I got into a good scoring position and just finished the rest,’ said Baker.
‘I was glad to get one, but we got the three points and that was the main thing. It was a difficult game in the conditions with the wind, but we pulled through to get the goal that we needed for the three points and we start off the tournament with a win.
‘We could have played a bit better, but with the conditions we did our best and our best was good enough.’
England, for whom Steve Holland assists Gareth Southgate, play their second game tonight against Guinea. It is the first of three fixtures in five days in the south of France and Southgate has said he hopes every member of his 20-man group will start at least one fixture to cope with the congestion.
‘We’ve been able to rest up, and we’ve got the squad to change things about,’ Baker agreed.
‘As we saw [against Portugal], the subs came on and made a difference and it’s the same throughout the squad – we have good strength in depth and that’s what we’re going to need.’
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