Chelsea manager has said that Ruben Loftus-Cheek needs to show everything he can do in the coming weeks if he wants to stay with the reigning European Champions for the 2021-22 season.
Loftus-Cheek was handed a place in the starting XI in Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Sunday, 1st August. He did a commendable job as Chelsea emerged as 2-1 winners, courtesy goals from Tammy Abraham and Kai Havertz.
The midfielder was given a long run, as French international N’Golo Kante substituted him after the hour-mark. The 25-year-old Englishman has been actively involved in Chelsea’s pre-season campaign, but it is still not certain that he will be a part of the West London club in the upcoming season.
Loftus-Cheek was one of Chelsea’s better players in the 2018/19 season. He played 45 matches in that season and scored four goals in their UEFA Europa League campaign. However, things have certainly gone downhill for him in the last couple of seasons.
He played only nine matches in the 2019/20 season and was subsequently loaned out to Fulham in the last season. The loan move was not successful either, as he scored only one goal in 32 appearances for the Cottagers.
While his recent form might suggest that there is no place in the Chelsea squad for him, those who have seen him under Maurizio Sarri will know that he is capable of producing great things. Hence, Tuchel now has a decision to make in the coming weeks.
“Generally, I am happy and that’s why he plays, he deserves to play at this point of the preparation. But I think he can do even more, he can show up more,”
the German manager said after the match, as per quotes in Eurosport.
“He can show more physical capability and drive more with the ball. I’m never satisfied with him, I have the feeling we need to push him to the absolute limit.
He has everything in his hands and it’s on him to decide his own future like every player. He has to keep on going 150% because 100% is not enough. Ruben needs to show now everything in some weeks if that’s possible,”
the UEFA Champions League winning manager further added.
Kurt Zouma has delivered when he needed to, states Tuchel
Loftus-Cheek is not the only player who might be on his way out of Cobham in the coming weeks. Kurt Zouma, the French centre-back, could also leave the club ahead of the next season.
According to multiple reports, the 26-year-old might be on his way to La Liga club Sevilla. Chelsea are interested in Zouma’s fellow France teammate Jules Kounde, and they are trying to include Kurt Zouma in any possible deal, so as to lower the transfer fee.
Tuchel, however, has said that the situation with Loftus-Cheek and that with Zouma is very different, as he knows what he can expect from the Frenchman. He also has hinted at an extended stay at the club for Zouma.
“Kurt was part of the team for half a year, I know him exactly, what I can demand from him, what he can give to the team. When he was needed – and he had some tough decisions against him, he delivered. It was his first 45 minutes of the season and from now on, we go,”
said the German.
Chelsea will now play their last pre-season friendly on Wednesday, 4th August. They will take on arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. A week after that match, the Blues travel to Windsor Park in Belfast, where they will take on Villareal in the 2021 UEFA Super Cup.
