‘I didn’t know’: Chelsea player says he had no idea what position he’d be playing in before the season started

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek has confessed he wasn’t quite sure what position he’d be playing in for Chelsea before the campaign kicked off.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 26-year-old admitted to having little to no idea what Thomas Tuchel had planned for him heading into the current season.

For starters, Loftus-Cheek probably wasn’t 100% certain he’d even be pulling on a Chelsea shirt, let alone which part of the pitch he’d be stationed on.

After his loan spell with relegated Fulham, one that was mainly to help him regain fitness and confidence, he returned to Cobham for pre-season as something of an outsider to the squad.

The team had changed massively since he switched to Craven Cottage, mainly due to an influx of new signings made under Frank Lampard.

But the dynamics of the side shifted again once Tuchel took charge, certainly for the better.

Tuchel took Loftus-Cheek under his wing

Having not yet trained with the German coach, with three midfielders already ahead of him in the pecking order, Loftus-Cheek must’ve felt on edge during the weeks leading up to the term.

Especially as they coincided with the summer transfer window, where he could have easily been loaned again or sold.

Saul Niguez’s arrival from Atletico Madrid put another obstacle in the Englishman’s way.

After failing to play any of the first six Premier League games, the signs were not positive for Loftus-Cheek.

However, as the months rolled by and the fixture schedule ramped up, Tuchel placed greater trust in the academy graduate.

He has become a very valuable member of the set-up, highlighted by the numerous roles asked of him by the manager.

Have you been keeping up, Ruben?

Loftus-Cheek has featured in his customary central area, functioned slightly deeper as a ‘quarter-back’, filled in a centre-back, and done a job at right-wing and even right wing-back.

So it’s no surprise he didn’t have a clue what was in store for him around this time last year.

“Coming into Chelsea this season, I didn’t know what to expect positionally,” said the now-versatile midfielder.

“I’ve always seen myself as a midfielder but someone who can do jobs in different positions.

“I’ve been playing deeper in midfield which is completely different from the past six or seven years when I was more of an attacking player but I’ve always had defensive qualities so for me to switch the mindset and have a more defensive hat on is certainly different this season.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenge from right wing-back, to centre-back to the No 6 role in midfield. It is very different but I’ve enjoyed it.”

It’s great to see Loftus-Cheek picked so regularly by Tuchel and understanding the art of the multi-functionality should only increase his minutes.

Yet, failure to maintain standards and he could easily slip away, as we’ve seen before.

Do not let this happen, Ruben, we can’t go through the pain again.

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