Youth product also confident of academy starlets becoming the future of Chelsea
Chelsea and England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is hopeful that he will be triumphant for both club and country over the next few weeks.
On the domestic front, he’s looking to help his club secure a top 4 place in the Premier League, which will guarantee Champions League football for the one-time European champions next season.
With Chelsea having three league matches left – with Sunday’s hugely important clash against top 4-rivals Manchester United next – the west London side also have a crucial UEFA Europa League Semi-Final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
With at least five matches left in the season, the 23-year-old is hoping
his current run in the Chelsea first team will catch the attention of England coach Gareth Southgate and help secure his place in the Three Lions squad for the UEFA Nations League Finals in June.
“I am focussed on the now and hoping (for England) in the future. The way you get in the England squad is doing well for your club.”– Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Loftus-Cheek, who has 10 England caps, missed England’s Euro 2020 qualifying wins against the Czech Republic and Montenegro due to his troublesome back injury and feared that along with not being a regular starter for Maurizio Sarri’s side at the time, his chances of a call-up this summer were in doubt.
But since then, the midfielder has overtaken club and country team-mate Ross Barkley in the Chelsea pecking order, starting the club’s last four league games.
And he hopes his recent form will be enough for him to be included in the 23-man squad in June, where England will face Holland in the Semi-Final, with a potential Final – and a chance of securing only their second major trophy – being against Portugal or Switzerland.
“England is a by-product of what you’re doing. My focus is all on Chelsea and playing well when I get the opportunity. If you do well, you have every chance of being called up to England.”– Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Besides aiming for success on the domestic and international stage, the Chelsea youth product is also confident that more academy graduates will become part of the senior squad at Stamford Bridge and the core of Chelsea’s long-term future.
Loftus-Cheek, alongside Andreas Christensen and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who unfortunately suffered a serious achilles injury earlier this week, have seen their opportunities increase in the second half of the campaign.
With the Blues still waiting to hear the outcome of their appeal against FIFA’s two window transfer ban, there is a serious possibility that they will not be able to recruit in the summer.
And that could lead to a number of their talented youngsters, that are usually sent out on loan, now being considered for roles in the first-team squad next season.
“Through the years Chelsea have brought through real talent, you can see it with Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount doing so well on loan.
There are so many that can play for Chelsea. Hopefully in the next few years we will see a team with some academy products.”– Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Here’s hoping to Ruben achieving success for both club and country over the next few weeks, along with more academy prospects playing alongside him next season and in the years to come.