Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says until Ruben Loftus-Cheek improves his defensive game, he won’t hold down a regular starting berth under him this season.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who enjoyed a season-long loan at Crystal Palace last term, has so far played a bit-part role since Sarri’s arrival.
To date he’s played four times, with both of his starts coming in the Europa League; last time out against BATE Borisov he bagged a hat-trick – becoming the first English player to do so for Chelsea in Europe for 47 years – but it’s not enough for his boss at the moment.
“At the moment he is not Drogba – in the future I hope he is. He played very well – in the offensive phase he was wonderful, and I also think he is becoming more suitable to my football,” he told reporters.
“He still needs to improve the defensive phase. At the moment we have four midfielders for two positions, and three of them have the same characteristics – only Kante is a defensive midfielder.
“It is very difficult for me to put four offensive midfielders of the same character. I hope to be able to do that in the future, including Loftus-Cheek, but I need the cooperation of the players.
“I know the fans love him because he was in the academy here, and this is normal, but my problem remains the same – I have 28 players but I can only put 11 in the team.”
“Kante is the only defensive midfielder”
A graduate of Chelsea’s academy, Loftus-Cheek is determined to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.
Even if he’s not one of the first names on Sarri’s team sheet, the Londoner will still be absorbing all of the advice Sarri, one of the most forward-thinking managers in Europe, is giving him on a daily basis.
“He’s always trying to help me, defensively and position-wise,” he told Sky Sports News.
Asked if Sarri had improved him, Loftus-Cheek replied: “Definitely, but I’ll always improve as a player day by day, technically and tactically from training. The more I play the better I’ll get as well. My target at the moment is to get my positioning right and the rest will come after that.”
Kovacic vs Barkley vs Loftus-Cheek in Premier League and Europa League this season per 90
Given his position and the abundance of players at Chelsea – such as Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley – that can play that role, it’s fair to say Loftus-Cheek faces stiff competition.
His manager recently highlighted the fact that N’Golo Kante is the only defensive-minded midfielder he can count on, meaning that the other No. 8’s at Chelsea are battling to play alongside the Frenchman.
“It’s good, healthy competition,” Loftus-Cheek added. “We’re doing so well at the moment, that competition really drives the team.
“That’s why we’ve been doing so well because everyone wants to do well in training – training is so sharp. We’re all so effective in training it brings the best out of the team. No complaints on that and we keep that going.”
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