Breaking News
2017: Best Year of My Career So Far, Says Victor Moses
*Reveals how coming of Conte to Chelsea changed his life
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Nigeria and Chelsea star, Victor Moses, has revealed that the outgoing 2017 remains the best year of his football career so far. Moses has Chelsea’s Italian Manager, Antonio Conte, to thank for the resurgence of his career.
In 2017, Moses won an English Premier League medal, got married, established himself as ‘the indispensable man’ in Conte’s Chelsea and above all, helped Nigeria become the first African nation to qualify for 2018 World Cup in Russia from a group that had the likes of Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.
Yesterday, Moses told UK’s Daily Star that all these happened in his life as a result of the chance given to him by Conte at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “For me, its definitely the top – my best year so far, on and off the pitch.â€
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.
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,†stressed Moses.
The Nigerian forward however 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.â€
The only hiccup this season however is being squeezed out of the race to become CAF 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.â€
The present good run of Moses in 2017 has kind of pale away the memories of the hard way he took to arrive England from Nigeria just as an 11-year-old boy.
He got to the Queens land as an asylum seeker after both his mother and father were killed during religious clashes in Kaduna in 2002.
According to his account, he was playing football in the streets when his parents lost their lives. A week later, his remaining family put together enough money to send him to England.
Palace under Neil Warnock gave Moses 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.
After playing for England from Under-16 to Under-21, Moses opted for the country of his birth. Now, he’s glad he took that decision which made him an integral part of the team Franco-German coach, Gernot Rohr is putting together to dazzle the world next summer in Russia.
“Nigeria was the first African country to qualify for the World Cup. We are like Chelsea  (at Super Eagles). We believe in ourselves.
At Stamford Bridge, Moses believes the tough December schedule will not hinder the quest for a trophy this term despite floundering far away from run away league leaders, Manchester City.
“Chelsea has loads of games coming up. We’ve got a great squad, and the manager we have here, we know what we are capable of,†concludes Moses.
Â
