Chelsea: Ruben Loftus-Cheek cannot be forgotten amid revamp

Chelsea has spent a pretty penny on players this summer, but its key players—like Ruben Loftus-Cheek—cannot be forgotten amid this retooling.

Chelsea’s summer of spending has been a breath of fresh air after two barren transfer windows, but that doesn’t mean the club can afford to forgo the development of players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

There’s something different about Loftus-Cheek; there always has been. Ever since his breakthrough at the Chelsea academy—as a marauding forward unperturbed by such foolish notions as ‘positions’, completely tethered to the art of goalscoring—he’s been special. The thing about RLC is that there’s a plethora of players and pundits who’ve been enthralled by his unique brand of play, including such luminaries as Roy Hodgson and Michael Ballack.

Indeed, during Loftus-Cheek’s Crystal Palace days, Hodgson claimed the youngster could even be better than Ballack, gushing: “He’s maybe got more strings to his bow than even Ballack had. That’s a bold thing to say, I know, but he’s so good at going past people. He’s got that deceptive turn of pace.”

Yes, it was bold, but Ballack himself understood the comparison, while also acknowledging such practices don’t always aid the player in question. See Marko Marin, Freddy Adu, etc. But in this instance, Ballack is the perfect comparison, especially given that the most lauded addition of this bounteous summer at the Bridge is no stranger to Ballackian prognoses himself.

Yes, that would be the finally announced Kai Havertz. A young prodigy from the outskirts of Cologne—4.5km from being Dutch, 4.8km from being Belgian (that is, were he born in the Aachen Cathedral, which he probably wasn’t, but is where Charlemagne’s remains lie)—destined to take the Premier League, and then Europe (Charlemagne-esque) by storm.

Yeah, he’s a helluva player—the kind that only comes ’round once in a blue moon. Or in this case, once every global pandemic timed directly after a bank-burgeoning transfer embargo. It’s a major coup, undoubtedly, but it doesn’t mean there needs to be a coup d’etat where Loftus-Cheek’s concerned.

Though with similar attributes—ability to beat a man, play a pass, score freely—the two are certainly compatible in midfield, and even more so should Havertz play further up the field. After all, despite a deceptive strength, the German’s slight build may mean his true future with the Blues lies in a more center forward-type role, with the right wing another option.

Where the Englishman has the edge is in his Mousa Dembele-ian (trust me, there’s no higher compliment in this category) capacity to hold and shield the ball from onrushing defenders. Particularly in the Premier League, there are few greater weapons you can possess as a footballer than that. In attack it gives a team time, which leads to space, which leads to goals. Under pressure it calms the chaos, reassuring those in the vicinity they’re not far off a breather.

With this in mind, and Ross Barkley hopefully moved on—Jorginho not too far behind him— Loftus-Cheek should be able to form a formidable partnership with Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante in the midfield. Mason Mount and, yes, Havertz are in the running for that partnership too.

The mention of Mount brings up an interesting point because, despite a breakout season last year, his position would—on the surface—appear the most susceptible upon Havertz’s arrival. Of course, suggestions that he was unhappy with the move have been swept swiftly in the trash by his father, but the fact remains that he seems the most Havertz-like in his style: rangy, slight, explosive.

The ace up his sleeve, of course—and why Frank Lampard loves him so—is his off-ball game. Few in his position can press like Mount can press, particularly, Loftus-Cheek. Perhaps more than any attacking output, this will be where roles will be won and lost in this Chelsea side. The attacking abundance is there for all to see. The press, counter-press and defensive shape will need to come. A nasty combination of injuries and spluttering game time have meant Loftus-Cheek has found it difficult to show such talents are in his armory.

If ever there’s a time to prove it, it’s now. I believe; he believes; Roy believes. Loftus-Cheek for Chelsea’s midfield 2020/21. Donate now!*

*- Loftus-Cheek has not yet officially endorsed this message. Please don’t donate.