Chelsea are supposed to be a young side filled with enthusiasm that plays the high-energy style that has followed their manager Mauricio Pochettino throughout his career. However, one Blues star has just received criticism over the international break for his lack of athleticism.
A number of Blues players are away representing their countries during this two-week break, including a trio with England.
Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer are with the Three Lions, who host Belgium on Tuesday night in a friendly at Wembley Stadium.
It’s Blues and England full-back Chilwell, 27, who’s come in for a bit of criticism.
TalkSPORT pundit Perry Groves has reacted to Chilwell’s England display versus Brazil at the weekend by highlighting his energy up and down the flank. Interestingly, he thinks the £190,0000-a-week Chelsea left-back (Salary Sport) needs to do much more.
“I think Chilwell, OK he’s rusty because he’s been injured and he isn’t match sharp, but he’s one of those players, and I put Luke Shaw in this category, who looks like he just does enough,” Groves told talkSPORT.
“You want a little bit more dynamism, energy and impulsiveness and you don’t get it. He created a couple of overlaps to be fair to him and he created space for Anthony Gordon to come inside and link up with Jude Bellingham.
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“But I think what epitomised his performances was when it came to him on the edge of the 18-yard box. If you’re completely match fit and tuned in and you are being positive, a player of his quality should be hitting the target both times.
“One he scuffed and the other he smacked over the crossbar. I looked at him and thought, ‘are you worried about getting injured again?’ He should be a lot more energetic going up and down the left hand side.”
Similarly, speaking via talkSPORT yesterday, Scott Minto said Chilwell didn’t look 100 per cent fit against Brazil.
Ben Chilwell is a running machine when fully fit
We’d like to defend Chilwell’s case here because the suggestion he’s not a great athlete is way off the mark.
First of all, journalist Nizaar Kinsella reported via X back in July during pre-season that Chilwell was among the top performers at Chelsea for the famed Gacon fitness test.
The full-back’s issue right now is he’s only recently back from his latest injury setback, which has very much been the pattern of recent years for him.
It’s been stop-start for the Chelsea vice-captain during his 19 club appearances so far this season.
England career is strange
Chilwell’s got 20 senior England caps in total, but perhaps a few nerves and a bit of rustiness can be explained by looking at statistics.
The Chelsea man didn’t play in any of England’s 13 matches in 2022. As for last year, he played only two from 10 games.
He’s one from one to start 2024, which is a big year with Euro 2024 this summer. Can the Blues defender make it two from two tonight against Belgium?
