Josh Hart of the New Orleans Pelicans featured in last week’s Chelsea Mike’d Up podcast to discuss his passion for Chelsea, including how he got into being a Chelsea fan, his first experience at Stamford Bridge, his thoughts on this season.
On how he’s become a Chelsea fan
Josh: “I got into it in college. When I was younger I would only watch England… like Peter Crouch, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Frank Lampard and obviously some of them played for Chelsea so I just went with Chelsea. Then in college I really started to like it and when I got to Los Angeles, Larry [Larry Nance Jr.] was there and he was a big Chelsea fan, so I was able to talk to him more and more about it and I was able to learn from him, but I couldn’t really watch much of the game, because it would come on at 4 or 4:30 in the morning. Now that I’m in New Orleans, the time difference is a little bit better, so I can get up at 7 or 8 o’clock and watch the game.”
On his first experience at Stamford Bridge
Josh: “Me and Larry were talking about going to London a couple of years ago, but what Larry didn’t understand at the time was that I was a rookie so I hadn’t had my first pay check yet… so Larry told me ‘we’re going to London in three days,’ and I had to say ‘I don’t have the expenses to do this…’ so I had to put that trip on hold, but we’re still planning that trip together.”
“My first trip was amazing. I went there with my girlfriend. We saw them play the first league game against Manchester United at Old Trafford – unfortunately that was not a good game – and then we saw them draw against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. It was cool, the environment was amazing, the passion something that I had never seen before and that made me love Chelsea and European football even more.”
On the 2019/20 Chelsea season
Josh: “I was pleasantly surprised with just how well they started, how well they’ve been playing. I am excited about the young guys. Chelsea is a big club and there’s a lot of pressure, so I was pleasantly surprised with how well they’ve been doing.”
On his favourite moment this season
Josh: “Probably the Tottenham game. Coming up with a win was huge. I really wished they won the first game against Leicester because I was there and they had started off so well.”
On Christian Pulisic
Josh: “Happy with how he’s playing. Some ups and downs, great performances, injuries and then you’re just waiting week after week after week to find out if he’s fit and if he’s going to play.”
