Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos on future and Oxford United loan
ALEX Matos will have conversations with Chelsea regarding his future when he returns to the Premier League club for pre-season training.
The 20-year-old midfielder spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Oxford United, and made a strong impression with his wholehearted displays.
Matos made 20 Sky Bet Championship appearances for the U’s, featuring in both his favoured holding midfield role and in an advanced No 10 position under Gary Rowett.
Asked about his future, Matos said: “When I return back to pre-season, I’ll have the conversations that I need to have. Those conversations are ongoing, but I’m not really focused on that at the minute.
“After I’ve had some time off, I’ll come back and I’ll see where my future lies.
“The experience here will definitely be in my memory. I’ve enjoyed a valuable loan experience, and I’ve enjoyed the ups and downs, and I think I’ve come out the end of the tunnel in a bright way.
“The gaffer has been very good with me. All the respect to him and the coaching staff. I’ll just see where my future lies.”
Matos added: “I’ve enjoyed my experience here. The more I got to play, the more I got to really connect with the fans, and I had to gain the gaffer’s trust, but I think I’ve done that. It’s been good.
“I envisioned this in January. I had to get my foot down and work hard, and that’s part of a loan. You have to work hard and earn the gaffer’s trust, and go out there and perform, and I think I’ve done that.
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“It’s always good to go on loan and achieve staying in the Championship with a good group of lads and a good group of staff as well.
“The club itself is a family club. Everyone has got each other’s back and helped me improve and helped me play with freedom.
“The fans have really backed us and drove us to the finish line really. The fans were fantastic.
“The club has got the foundations there, and it’s about improving now, and hopefully they can go on to stay in this league and push even more next season.”
