https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/03/05/
tuchel-on-loftus-cheek-s-best-position-and-why-he-remains-a-defe
Tuchel on Loftus-Cheek's best position and why he remains a defensive option
05 Mar 2022
After utilising him in an unfamiliar defensive role in our last outing at
Luton Town, Thomas Tuchel has been discussing Ruben Loftus-Cheek's best
position and how his impressive adaptability can be a valuable asset for
the team.
https://i.imgur.com/QH8nZf0.jpg
When the line-ups were announced at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday night,
few expected to see Loftus-Cheek starting in the centre of our three-man
defence at kick-off an hour later.
However, with absences among the rearguard and options limited, Tuchel
turned to a man who has played a variety of roles across his 105 games for
Chelsea, albeit never before at the back.
'We were open before the match and told everybody we had players in some
positions they do not prefer, like Callum Hudson-Odoi as a wing-back and
like Ruben,' Tuchel revealed.
https://i.imgur.com/IwLRL9M.jpg
Stepping out from defence into midfield was a theme of the game for Ruben
at Luton
'We need them and we need them right now. It's the moment to step up and
not be too angry or disappointed about the last week. This was the moment
to show true team spirit and give the very best in an unfamiliar position,
and they did.
'I was very happy with the way we won the game and how we played the game.
I did not over-expect performance-wise with a fancy game. What we did was
very good from the mental aspect and it showed true character. That's why
I am very happy about it.'
While Hudson-Odoi has featured at wing-back on plenty of occasions since
Tuchel's appointment 14 months ago, Loftus-Cheek was asked to step even
further out of his comfort zone. However, as he revealed after the game,
he does have some experience as a defender, even if it was some time ago
now.
'I played centre-back when I was 12 or 13, for a season or two, and I
never liked it but tonight was a bit different,' he said on Wednesday. 'I
played as a centre-back in a back four when I was younger. This time I had
more licence to step out and create the attack from the start, so I
enjoyed it.
'You have to do a job where you get put and I still tried to bring my
qualities and what makes me Loftus-Cheek to the game. That's all I could
do but I really enjoyed it.'
Tuchel did not rule out deploying the midfielder further back in the
future, claiming such drastic changes can often emerge from emergency
situations, and he was clearly pleased with the 26-year-old's overall
display, which included a neat assist for Timo Werner's equaliser.
'It would not be the first time where a situation like this is the
foundation for somebody finding a new position in the squad,' he
continued.
https://i.imgur.com/rhEWZT2.jpg
'He did very well in the middle of the back three after a shy start. He
grew into the match and found his top performance on the day, which helped
us a lot.'
Yet Tuchel feels Loftus-Cheek's deep skillset still best suits a role in
the centre of the field, which is where he was moved to in the latter
stages at Luton.
'When he did it in the last 20 or 25 minutes, in the single number six
position, this is his best position to have the most influence,' added the
boss. 'He can impose his dribbling, driving with the ball and physicality
higher up the pitch.'