Romeo Lavia interview: I'll be the first to leave Chelsea if I lose belief | OneFootball

Midfielder still believes in BlueCo direction as he prepares to face former club Manchester City in first FA Cup final

Romeo Lavia has insisted that he will be the first player to leave Chelsea if he loses faith in their project, but is adamant they will turn things around.

Lavia is coming to the end of his third campaign at Stamford Bridge so has lived through the majority of the post-Roman Abramovich era under the ownership of the BlueCo consortium.

The running of the club in that time has been criticised by fans and neutrals due to the mixed results of a youth-focused transfer policy that has produced a promising and financially valuable but ultimately inexperienced squad.

Lavia, who calls it “strange” that his first FA Cup final comes against former staff and team-mates at his old club Manchester City, was asked who the leaders are within Chelsea’s young group.

“It’s hard to put names, because I think everyone in different parts of the season has shown leadership,” Lavia said. “It’s more of a collective quality that we have. When you talk about leadership, some players we [might] think it’s off the pitch or being vocal, some players it’s on the pitch.

“I’d probably say the ones that have been at the club for the longest have definitely shown a lot of leadership at this club.”

Pressed to be specific, the one-time Belgian international said: “I could name a few. I’d probably say Enzo [Fernandez], because he’s won the World Cup and he’s got a lot of experience.

“When you talk about leaders, he’s a really good example because he doesn’t need to speak too much and when he does, everyone listens.”

Asked whether he still has full confidence in the Chelsea project, Lavia replied: “Yes, of course. The day I lose belief, I will probably be the first one to leave this place.

I 100 per cent believe we will turn it around and get back to the Chelsea everyone knows

Romeo Lavia

“When you're in the building, never at any point do you see a loss of belief. On a personal note, I 100 per cent believe we will turn it around and get back to the Chelsea everyone knows.”

Criticism of Chelsea and accusations that players have downed tools at moments this season have been “tough to hear,” Lavia admitted. “To say we don’t listen to it would be a lie.”

While interim head coach Calum McFarlane will lead Chelsea out at Wembley, there is an ongoing search for the club’s next permanent boss. They intend to appoint Liam Rosenior’s full-time successor before the World Cup.

Lavia and Chelsea will come up against Pep Guardiola at Wembley, and the midfielder knows the City boss well from his time at the Etihad Stadium.

“I learned a lot of things,” Lavia said of his time working with Guardiola. “He is an incredible manager. He would regularly come to the academy games and give feedback.

“If I could give one example of advice he gave me, it was to be the one that is unseen. I remember him saying that to me.

“As in, going unnoticed. It is a bit like what we used to see with [Sergio] Busquets. If you watch the game, you don’t see Busquets, but if you watch Busquets, you see the game.

“It is that one where he made the team tick. Pep said this is key for the position I am playing in. I always say that I like to put all my qualities for the other players. Other players will win us games. I’m just there to make them thrive.”