Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s recall to the England squad after seven years was a surprise, a result of Adam Wharton’s injury, but also a reward for the AC Milan midfielder’s resilience. “The belief to overcome challenges is paramount in sport, in life,” he said before training at St George’s Park today.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek on support in difficult times.
Now 29, Loftus-Cheek has been through some tough times, not least when rupturing his achilles tendon in 2019. Loftus-Cheek was doing well for Chelsea, and a regular in the England squad. He was out for 281 days. “When I did rupture my Achilles, because I was on such a high, it was a hard time mentally,’’ Loftus-Cheek added.
He was 23, threw himself into rehab, and watched England from afar, a frustrated figure. It took him two years to get really going again, eventually moving to Milan in 2023. Fortunately, he had good support through the draining times.
“If you have good people around you, it’s going to help you so much,” he said. “The main thing is it comes from yourself, your self-drive. The belief to overcome challenges is paramount in sport, in life. That you have this mentality of overcoming challenges, because there will always be challenges in life. Some easier, some harder. Being able to accept that and try and work through it, if you have that mentality, it is going to take you places.”
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He's also needed his mental strength to cope with differing demands on him professionally. Throughout his career, Loftus-Cheek has played different positions, including at 6, 8, centre-back and wing-back for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea. “I remember when he came into Chelsea, he spoke to me about playing right wing-back. I said, ‘No! No! No!’
“I’d never played in that wide position before. He suggested I’m a powerful runner and have the pace to play there, and the physicality to get up and down at speed. I ended up playing that quite a lot that season. I was happy to play there. It was just the shock of the suggestion!”
“I’m able to play different positions. Since I’ve been at Milan, I’ve played a lot higher, closer to the striker, to get goals, and help the team in the final third. Under Thomas I played a lot deeper. With things that can happen in a tournament, being versatile is a good thing. I’m happy to play anywhere.”
So he was delighted to get the call from Tuchel to join up with England for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. “After working with him, he knows me as a player. I played quite a lot for him. I thought maybe if I’m doing well I maybe had a chance.”
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Sorry off subject Henry, but I know you were a writer on the Daily Telegraph many years ago and one of your colleagues was Robert Philip, a very talented and humorous writer. Sadly Robert passed away a few days ago. His memorial service is in Troon next week.