Thursday, March 28News That Matters

Graham Potter reveals the Chelsea star who has ‘really impressed’ him in training

Graham Potter says he has been ‘really impressed’ by Ruben Loftus-Cheek this campaign and has rated the midfielder’s chances of making England’s World Cup squad.

Loftus-Cheek is enjoying a consistent run in the team lately at Stamford Bridge, featuring in all 11 of Chelsea’s Premier League games this campaign.




The 26-year-old has seen his progress halted by reoccurring injury issues in past seasons but he now appears to be over his fitness setbacks and is establishing himself as a major member of Potter’s squad.

Potter has been ‘really impressed’ by Loftus-Cheek ‘on and off the pitch’ and believes his impressive form could get him a place in England’s squad for the World Cup.

‘Ruben has really impressed me, on and off the pitch,’ Potter said ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night.

‘He is a humble guy who wants to learn and improve. He’s clearly benefitted from more game-time, but the way he has trained is really, really good when he hasn’t played. So that has allowed him to build his fitness up.




‘Clearly, he needs a good fitness level to carry that big body of his around the pitch, but his quality is there. He is fantastic on the ball, great physicality, great athlete.

‘I think he is putting himself in a situation where he will be one of the players Gareth [Southgate] will be looking at as an outsider for the squad. But that is Gareth’s decision.’




Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, concedes it would ‘mean the world’ to be part of England’s upcoming World Cup squad, having also gone to the previous tournament in 2018.

‘It would be amazing,’ the former Crystal Palace and Fulham loanee said. ‘It would mean a lot. ‘As a player, after going into the 2018 World Cup, you see your trajectory to go upward and to be at the next World Cup if everything goes well.

‘A lot has happened in between that time, and I am just happy and grateful that I am fit and healthy and playing football now consistently.

‘If I go to the World Cup, it would mean the world, but that is not at the forefront of my mind at the moment.

‘We have some big games coming up that need our full focus. It would be selfish for me to think about my personal aspirations rather than the club at the moment.’

On Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Salzburg, Blues boss Potter added: ‘They are a really good side, we saw their quality at Stamford Bridge. We have to fight, match their motivation and intensity and then we have to try to play our football.’

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