Chelsea star Ben Chilwell reveals he has asked Thomas Tuchel how he can ‘improve his game’ as he strives to play more regularly after being rotated with Marcos Alonso at left wing-back
- Ben Chilwell has been rotated with Marcos Alonso since Thomas Tuchel joined
- The Chelsea star is determined to prove himself and play more regularly
- He has revealed that he has asked Tuchel to see how he can improve his game
Ben Chilwell has revealed that he has asked Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel on how he can improve his game.
The England full-back has been in and out of the starting lineup since the German replaced Frank Lampard at the helm of the club.
Having featured in every Premier League game that he was available for Lampard, Chilwell has been left on the bench in six of the 12 league outings under Tuchel who has rotated him with the experienced Marcos Alonso.
Ben Chilwell says he asked Thomas Tuchel how he can improve as he is used in a rotation role
Chilwell is striving to prove to Tuchel that he deserves to be playing on a more regular basis
Chilwell has played less regularly under Tuchel as he is rotated with Spaniard Marcos Alonso
The 24-year-old spoke in Chelsea’s pre-match press conference ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Porto.
Ahead of the match, Chilwell was asked about his competition with Alonso to make the starting line-up.
‘When the manager came in, it was a clean slate for everyone,’ the full-back said.
‘You can look at it one of two ways. Either I didn’t play the first three or four games which could’ve got me down but I used it as an opportunity to work harder, to ask him questions in training where he thinks I can improve my game and get more match time.
‘When I get the opportunity to play I want to prove I should be playing more regularly and I’m sure all other players including Marcos are doing the same thing.
‘It’s very healthy, especially at this stage of the season with quarter finals, semi final in the cup, the league, it’s important everyone in the squad is challenging each other for eleven shirts and working hard, as they want to stay in the team.
Chilwell scored in the first leg against Porto with Chelsea holding a 2-0 advantage
Chilwell has had to get used to a different formation with Tuchel, who unlike Lampard, prefers to operate with wing backs.
When asked if he felt better under Tuchel and Chelsea’s new formation, he said: ‘Not sure if better but I am always trying to improve every day which is a given.
‘I’m a different player as playing left wing back wasn’t something I was used to before.
‘Since the manager has come in that’s where Marcos and myself have been playing. I’ve been asking manager lots of questions on how he feels I can improve my game in that position and feel like I’m definitely improving.’
Chelsea hold a 2-0 advantage going into the second-leg with Porto and should they advance, they will face Liverpool or Real Madrid in the semi-final.