Patrick Bamford

"My ambition was always to play football and I knew I had the chance to achieve my dream."

"Dad always made sure I had a back-up and that's why I did my A-Levels. It was then just a decision as to whether I went down the education or football route."

"Just in case things didn't work out I'd already looked at universities and didn't fancy doing the English route."

"I applied abroad and somehow Harvard offered me a scholarship. But that was always a back-up."

Bamford wrote:"The original plan was to stay at Chelsea and be a third striker this season. But the chance came to bring Didier Drogba back. Jose said I could stay if I really wanted but he said for my development and to make sure I am ready for Chelsea, the best option for me was to go out and play again."

"I know what the plan is for me.  When I first signed for Chelsea they didn't really think, with the odd exception, that most players would be either emotionally or mature enough to play in the first team until they were 22 or 23. So if I keep biding my time until then and keep improving, hopefully I will get my chance."

"You can't really turn down the chance to go to Chelsea. After I'd gone to look round at Chelsea and heard their plans and heard the plan until you are 23, I thought playing with better players, and the coaching will be of a higher standard, so I will improve."

"I don't know what it is like for other players but I still have my sights set on Chelsea. I have to be patient."

"I'm very pleased with Patrick. He took time to settle in because he arrived in the first international break, and it's always difficult to arrive at a new place without pre-season."

"It's a new place to live, a new club, new team-mates and a new manager. Now he's working really well, scoring goals and I think his confidence is high."

"I don't think we need to speak a lot about Patrick's contract because he's happy here, the club are happy he's here and I am happy having him here. He's always involved with the lads in the changing room, so I couldn't understand why we would have problems extending his loan."

"I would really like him to stay all season and he knows that, but it's not just me. I like to have players here who want to be here and not because I want them to be here."