Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell is a very popular figure at Cobham.
Ben Chilwell was recently named Chelsea vice-captain and The Telegraph’s Matt Law has told the London Is Blue podcast that the left-back is adored by those at the club.
On Chilwell, Law said: “He’s very, very well liked. He’s very well liked not just among the training ground, but the staff, the people who work at Cobham, the people who work at Stamford Bridge.”
The 26-year-old has been given a new role by Mauricio Pochettino this season, with the Argentine playing him in a more attacking position.
However, he was left on the bench for Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth last Sunday, making way for Mykhailo Mudryk.
Good choice for vice-captain
You can see why Pochettino decided to make Chilwell second-in-command behind Reece James.
Chilwell signed for Chelsea in 2020, joining from Leicester City in a £50m deal, but is now one of the longest-serving players at the club.
The England international is also one of the more senior members of the Blues’ squad. Chelsea have brought in a lot of young signings recently, which has helped to elevate Chilwell’s status at Cobham.
It is a bit of a surprise that Thiago Silva was not made the club’s skipper with James being named vice-captain. But Pochettino clearly feels having James as the leader of the team and Chilwell as the lieutenant is the way to go.
Turning 39 this week, Silva may not be at Chelsea for much longer, so perhaps that is something Pochettino took into account when making his decision. The Brazil international’s contract expires at the end of the season, so he could be leaving Stamford Bridge soon.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
