Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s re-emergence has represented one of the more surprising aspects of Chelsea’s superb start to the new campaign.
The Blues have followed up last season’s European triumph by winning five of their opening seven league games this term and currently sit top of the table.
Loftus-Cheek could have been forgiven for thinking he would be surplus to requirements after the arrival of Saul Niguez on deadline day, and the writing looked to be on the wall after he was left out of the first five games of the season.
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The midfielder was handed a chance to impress against Zenit back in August, and has featured prominently in four of Chelsea’s subsequent five games.
Despite the huge competition, Loftus-Cheek now looks well placed for an extended run in the team after another impressive display in last week’s 3-1 win over Southampton.
Injuries, and mainly the debilitating Achilles rupture he picked up before the 2019 Europa League final, have hampered his progress at the London club.
But, according to The Athletic, Tuchel was shocked he hadn’t been used more regularly by the former managers telling the player ‘You are special. I cannot believe you haven’t played more for Chelsea’ during pre-season.
Tuchel had spoken about the England midfielder in the past, even comparing him to Michael Ballack while discussing his future last campaign during his loan spell at Craven Cottage.
He said: ‘I was quite a fan of him when he was even younger and he came though the academy and started playing professional football.
‘He reminded me a little bit in his style of play and movement of Michael Ballack.
‘There were some links about him moving to Germany – we were well aware of him. I don’t know why things didn’t work out but he’s doing well on loan now and leaving him footprint.
‘I love to work with players but I need a direct impression and we don’t have that yet. I don’t know what his ideas are or what the club are thinking. We haven’t made a decision yet.’
