Chelsea FC: 5 Players To Watch This Pre-Season
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be eager to perform for the boss. The 19-year-old, like Zouma, was bled into the team last season but he faces much more competition in his midfield role.
Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic currently start in the centre, with Ramires and John Obi Mikel providing experienced cover. While Mikel may be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, RLC will still need to prove his worth to Mourinho in order to see regular playing time next season, and avoid being loaned out.
Furthermore, Chelsea have been linked with a slew of midfielders as it is widely recognised as an area of the field that the Blues need to strengthen. With the expensive world-class talent that Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in, their arrival will only see Loftus-Cheek slide further and further down the pecking order should he not impress.
Showing his worth may be harder for him than any other player too. Following Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Sydney FC in a post-season friendly, Mourinho blasted the youngster for not giving enough for the team.
‘So, with Ruben, it’s one step back in terms of my relationship with him. If he doesn’t know what it is to play for me and Chelsea it’s one step back.
‘He has to learn that at 19 you have to run three times more than the others, you have to play to your limits and not play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is not Under-18s.’
Ouch.
Having said that, should he show that he has taken Mourinho’s words on board, the ability to learn from his mistakes and heed advice may make him even more attractive in the boss’s eyes than he initially could have been.
Well, I’ve had my say so now it’s your turn. Who will you be keeping an eye on during the pre-season? What will you be looking for? Get involved and sound off in the comments below!
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