If Thomas Tuchel learned one thing from Chelsea‘s deserved if uninspiring 1-0 victory over Malmo in the Champions League it is that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is approaching his top form.
Nobody could have foreseen the powerful midfielder bustling his way into a star-studded Champions League-winning midfield, particularly after playing a bit-part role in a Fulham side that ended the previous campaign 11 points adrift of Premier League safety. And yet, here we are.
Loftus-Cheek was brought into the starting XI in place of a world-class central midfielder in N’Golo Kante and partnered next to another in Jorginho, who many believed to be a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or. And it is a testament to his unexpected revival that not only did he not look out of place, but that he was the game’s best player. Even more so than Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was also excellent and supplied the match-winning assist for Hakim Ziyech.
This was the Loftus-Cheek that Chelsea fans have waited over half a decade to see, the one who started to make good on his promise and potential only for a ruptured Achilles to halt his progress on the eve of the 2019 Europa League final. Finally, with Chelsea’s squad at its strongest in years, Loftus-Cheek is making his overdue mark.
It can be difficult to glean too much from Champions League nights like this, where one team is so clearly superior to the other. Malmo operate on a fraction of Chelsea’s budget and Tuchel took the opportunity to give in-form Reece James and Ben Chilwell a breather. But for Chelsea’s fringe players, it was a golden opportunity to impress and Loftus-Cheek certainly took his chance.
The 25-year-old continually drove forward, twisted and turned his way out of trouble on countless occasions and with one casual flick of the boot, as the ball bounced awkwardly towards him inside his own half, made poor Bonke Innocent look very naive indeed as the ball arced majestically over his head.
All that was lacking from an encouraging evening was a goal or assist. He had a couple of sighters himself, curling a well-struck effort over in the first half and powering a drive into Johan Dahlin’s midriff after fashioning a chance for himself in the second. And had Kai Havertz possessed a touch more composure in front of goal, he would have helped himself to two assists after twice piercing Malmo’s backline with passes for the German to latch onto.
The one blot on Loftus-Cheek’s copybook was when a slack pass went astray, culminating in an early chance for the hosts that got the Malmo crowd on its feet. But he recovered well from that nervy moment and re-asserted himself authoritatively from that point onwards.
“He needs to use his full potential, this is the absolute key for him and if he does it, he can be a big part of the squad and that is why I am very happy,” Tuchel said after the game.
It had looked as though Loftus-Cheek’s game at Chelsea was up following last season’s disappointing spell at Craven Cottage. Few Fulham fans would have shed a tear at seeing him return to his parent club following a meagre return of one goal in 30 Premier League appearances.
But it is to his credit that he has forced his way into Tuchel’s plans against the odds. Doing likewise for Gareth Southgate and England has to be the next aim.
Malmo 0-1 Chelsea report
By Ian Winrow
Hakim Ziyech struck the decisive second half goal that secured a routine Chelsea victory, while the performances of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi gave Thomas Tuchel additional cause for satisfaction as his side moved one step closer towards the knockout stages of the Champions League.
This was not a performance that will long in the memory with Malmo proving more obstinate opponents than they had done at Stamford Bridge two weeks previously when they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat. Chelsea, though, did just enough, making up for a succession of squandered chances when Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech combined in the 56th minute to finally find a way through the hosts’s defences.
“We got the job done,” said Tuhel, the head coach. “I think that maybe now we are judged by results but who doesn’t? We needed the result, we wanted the result and we got the result.”
Loftus-Cheek, who was making his first Champions League start for six years, drove his side forward from midfield and his efforts should have led to a first half goal when Kai Havertz failed to make more of a good opportunity when he had been sent clear on goal by Loftus-Cheek’s through ball. “He needs to use his full potential, this is the absolute key for him and if he does it, he can be a big part of the squad and that is why I am very happy,” added Tuchel.
Chelsea were frustrated until Hudson Odoi, impressive throughout, exchanged passes with Havertz before delivering a superb, low cross that curled between the Malmo keeper and his retreating defenders and into the path of Ziyech who finished from close range.
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