Ross Barkley’s Chelsea career reached an all-time low point 10 weeks ago. The former Everton phenom was unable to orchestrate a loan or permanent move away from Stamford Bridge before the transfer window slammed shut on August 31. It seemed as if he was headed down the Danny Drinkwater route of being at the club but never so much as getting a glance of the pitch. The £15 million chance the Blues took on the injury prone English star seemingly hadn’t paid off. However, things have begun to look up for Barkley since the start of the campaign.
A seven-minute cameo against Southampton in the Premier League would see his luck take a turn for the best. Barkley’s sumptuous pass led to Chelsea’s go-ahead goal during his third appearance of the season. Subsequent injuries to Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount and Timo Werner left the Blues thin up top and Barkley was magically given more opportunities. He’s played in eight matches for the reigning Champions of Europe this year and looked solid in every one. This just goes to show that Thomas Tuchel was all Barkley needed to get his career back on track.
Ross Barkley needed a teacher like Thomas Tuchel to help get his Chelsea career back on the right path
Chelsea has been trying to get Barkley to work ever since he joined the club back in the winter of 2018. The Blues bought a player fresh off a major injury, but one who showed his world class potential while at Goodison Park throughout the mid-2010s. The issue was the fact that Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard all tried to redefine his role. The reality of situation is that the former England standout did not need a manager to reinvent his game—he needed a teacher. The Chelsea coaches of old tried desperately to fit a square peg in a round hole, both in the midfield and up top. Tuchel is taking a different approach thus far and it seems to be paying off.
The Blues’ German gaffer has let Barkley play his own game. A lot of the issues in the 27-year-old’s play are evident for spectators to see. Barkley has been criticized for his poor decision making when in possession and carry the ball through tight pressure. The answer to this problem is not having him play as a winger or turning him into a regista, as previous regimes have tried, it’s instructing him where to go on the pitch so that he can find pockets of space. This eliminates the two main flaws in Barkley’s gameplay. It’s not a foolproof solution, rather a temporary fix.
The attacking midfielder could truly enjoy a career revival if he continues to find his way onto the pitch in any capacity. His ability to play as a false nine of sorts against Burnley showed the coaching staff he has what it takes to help the team in numerous positions. He can also line up as a No. 10 and winger when called upon. Regardless, confidence is everything in football. Barkley may not be the most talented player jogging around Cobham on a given day but he’s there for a reason. The club believes in him and the sky is the limit if he continues to grow in confidence.
Admittedly, it’s difficult to see what the future holds for Barkley. This is one of the deepest teams in Europe and there are a plethora of young stars on the verge of breaking through. Nevertheless, Barkley’s situation is the reason why fans should learn to not look too far ahead when evaluating what comes next for current players. 10 weeks is no time at all and Barkley’s situation changed drastically. There are still a lot of games to be played this year. It’s also important to take contracts into consideration. The Blues have Barkley under contract through the end of the 2022/23 season at this moment in time. The remainder of the current campaign, as well as the individual in the managerial seat, could very well determine his Chelsea future. Tuchel has worked wonders for the veteran so far, he could still have a larger role to play in Barkley’s career.
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