Billy Gilmour: Chelsea's Scottish teenager 'incredible' in Liverpool win - BBC Sport
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Billy Gilmour: Chelsea's Scottish teenager 'incredible' in Liverpool win

By Thomas DuncanBBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Scottishcomments170

Frank Lampard called him incredible. Alan Shearer said he "bossed it" and Jermaine Jenas named him man of the match - safe to say Scottish teenager Billy Gilmour made an impression in Chelsea's FA Cup win over Liverpool.

The 18-year-old attracted praise from players, pundits, journalists and fans as he helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round.

Having played a total of just 281 minutes before Tuesday, has he staked a claim for a regular starting berth and a Scotland call-up?

"It was a good match, so it was," Gilmour told BBC Sport. "I've been training very hard to get this chance and today I stepped up and took my opportunity - it was a great game and a great victory."

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What his manager & team-mates said

Gilmour, a former Rangers youth player, was only promoted to the Chelsea first-team squad three weeks ago, having played six times for the club so far.

Pre-match, Chelsea boss Lampard said it was a "comfortable choice" to select him for such a big game, and he was proved correct as the diminutive, boyish-looking Scot stood out among men.

"What an incredible performance for a young player," Lampard said afterwards. "He was a calm head in that first five or 10 minutes. He's a throwback of a midfielder.

"Can you put your foot in? Yes. Can you make angles to play the passes? Yes. He's only slight in stature but he's huge in personality. He deserves people to talk about him after a performance like that."

Midfielder Ross Barkley, who scored the second goal of the night at Stamford Bridge, echoed his manager's praise for his young team-mate.

"Billy was brilliant," the England international said. "But it was not a surprise to me. I've seen him in training and he was like that in training last season."

Gilmour graphic

What the pundits said

Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer on BBC One

He has bossed it. He's done whatever he's been asked to do, whether that's collecting the ball and passing it forward, protecting that back four, spraying the ball around, he's been absolutely magnificent.

He passed it forward - that was his first thought. Jorginho is now suspended for the next couple of games, so he's put in a performance that's said to the manager 'you have to keep me in this team'.

Everything he has done has been spot on. He is so confident, to have that belief in his ability.

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Former Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas on BBC One

Billy Gilmour has looked like he is having a kick-about in the park with his mates. That is the biggest compliment I can give him.

I have been so impressed by this young lad. He's had such a calm head and he's not given the ball away all night. It's been a brilliant evening for him.

Former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison on Radio 5 Live

Billy Gilmour in the middle of the park has been terrific, his all-round game has been fantastic.

He has been tenacious in the tackle and went straight in and nailed Fabinho. At the end of the [first] half, he tracked Sadio Mane all the way and Chelsea fans will feel he has been their player of the half.

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Could he get a Scotland call-up?

Gilmour has represented Scotland up to under-21 level, but with the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final with Israel to come on 26 March, should Steve Clarke give him a first senior call-up? Should he start?

His potential has long been discussed, but now he is delivering performances at the highest level it might be increasingly difficult to leave him out, especially if he keeps his place in the Chelsea team.

However, central midfield is Scotland's strongest area, with Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, Norwich City's Kenny McLean, Sheffield United's John Fleck, and Old Firm trio Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie and Ryan Jack among those in contention for the next squad.

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170 comments

  • Comment posted by DeepDarkBlue, at 07:30 4 Mar 2020

    Can you even imagine being 18 & getting your chance at the heart of midfield, in front of a home crowd, against the runaway league leaders & putting in a MOM performance like that? It's Billies Boots stuff from 'Tiger', & he handled it all with a casual ease, even the interview at the of it all. A dream of a night for the young man & a big career began properly last night. Go on our kid, enjoy.

  • Comment posted by KRR, at 07:01 4 Mar 2020

    #4

    Gilmour's not English, old boy.

  • Comment posted by More on this story, at 07:21 4 Mar 2020

    The transfer ban seems to have done Chelsea and it's youngsters the world of good!

  • Comment posted by ellis , at 06:47 4 Mar 2020

    super little player . TOP DISPLAY for someone that young,
    he looked the part lastnight
    definitly one to keep a eye out for.

  • Comment posted by Info Addict, at 07:07 4 Mar 2020

    I hope more British talent like this young lad are given opportunities to play. It's moments like this that at least give one a feeling and connection to the football, in a way that feels lost most of the time these days.

  • Comment posted by dirtydees, at 07:23 4 Mar 2020

    Young Scottish boy shines so BBC open it up for a HYS and a bout of Xenophobia amongst some and go. We're onto you BBC. A brilliant performance young man. Keep that up and Chelsea will make the Champions League which would be a good first season under Lamps.

  • Comment posted by OldGirl, at 08:31 4 Mar 2020

    Excellent game by Gilmour. I really hope the media don't do their usual thing of building him up and up, and then turning him into a pariah him when he inevitably makes a mistake.

    The media here seem to love an excuse to be virulent and negative.

  • Comment posted by RPGDave, at 08:21 4 Mar 2020

    Chelsea under Lampard are giving all the young talent a chance to shine!

    To play as good as he did against a top team like Liverpool, No wonder he is being talked about

    Was nice also to see Liverpool knocked out after disrespecting the cup

    The break Klopp said the team needed as come back to bite them in the backside cos the results have been bad for Liverpool since

  • Comment posted by Vic, at 09:27 4 Mar 2020

    @47 and Rangers have never poached any young Scottish talent (not to mention Celtic)?

    The OF have a long history of stripping young talent from Scotland's clubs and then letting them rot in the reserve teams while they bring in hordes of foreign mercenaries. Best thing that could have happened to the young lad was to get out of that environment so his talent could develop.

  • Comment posted by Kenny, at 08:26 4 Mar 2020

    No doubt Wales will be sniffing about trying to find out if he once ate a daffodil or hugged a sheep to be eligible to play for them

  • Comment posted by yourafandango, at 06:59 4 Mar 2020

    Absolute steal from Rangers

  • Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 08:13 4 Mar 2020

    I bet he's glad Mourinho isn't his manager!

  • Comment posted by Michaelmas, at 06:50 4 Mar 2020

    Well done Chelsea. Some good young talent you have there!
    We go again. YNWA.

  • Comment posted by Andrew Platt, at 07:35 4 Mar 2020

    Brilliant performance. Scotland have a real gem for the future on their hands, as long as his career is managed properly, of course.

  • Comment posted by Eddiemate, at 11:12 4 Mar 2020

    @ 63

    "Rangers again keeping Scottish football afloat."

    For the record, Rangers couldn't keep THEMSELVES afloat. Relying on The Rangers to keep anyone afloat is a bit like relying on the Titanic to rescue you after your ferry started sinking.

  • Comment posted by mac_abre, at 08:14 4 Mar 2020

    I got the sense that he is a 'team' player, he'd rather apply the assist than score, he'll track back for anyone, he knows 100% is required when possible, and he is instinctive in the positions he takes up, where Mount was profligate and wasteful, not passing an assist for Giroud to get a tap in, Gilmour would have been aware and played Giroud in. This kid see's the game.

  • Comment posted by Max_Power, at 10:21 4 Mar 2020

    Always like to see a good young Scottish player make his way in the game - this kid is genuinely talented and has a good head on him - that's why he left the rangers - doesn't matter he supported them - he's bypassing the old firm nonsense we have to put up with in Scotland.

    Also the rangers will make zero pence on him as well - which is really pleasing as they let their club die.

  • Comment posted by The Changingman, at 07:43 4 Mar 2020

    Every time Billy Gilmour has appeared he has shown a maturity far in excess of his age, and has not at any time looked out of his depth. He was, as everyone has been saying, outstanding last night and bossed the game. Moved wider later in the game with less of an impact, but that was a tactical decision. I think we have a natural holding midfielder gem in our ranks now.

    Well done Billy Gilmour!

  • Comment posted by asitseems, at 07:08 4 Mar 2020

    Looks like a great talent - Iniesta like.

    Scotland midfield is too strong at the moment but I am sure he will break through once established in Chelsea starting line up every week.

  • Comment posted by arab87, at 09:07 4 Mar 2020

    Centre-mid of McTominay, Fleck, and Gilmour, with McGinn playing off the striker in a 5-3-2/3-5-2 is the way to go for Scotland. We'd get more out of Robertson in a wing-back roll too. Tierney could play on the left of a back three and with Armstrong playing on right for Southampton he could play right wing-back. Sadly Clarke will probably pick players from the SPL instead.