​Ruben Loftus-Cheek Credits Loan Spell at Crystal Palace for Chelsea Breakthrough This Season

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has credited Crystal Palace with his impressive development, as he believes his loan spell at Selhurst Park last season 'matured' him into a better player.

​The 22-year-old spent the last campaign with the Eagles under Roy Hodgson but is now developing into an integral member of Maurizio Sarri’s Blues squad.

“After a season at Palace I felt I really matured, I got to see what the ​Premier League was like playing week-in, week out,” Loftus-Cheek said.

“At Palace we had to fight a lot. I really think I learned the way to fight and grind out games."

The midfielder excelled in 24 games for ​Palace last term and subsequently earned a call-up to the England World Cup squad in Russia under Gareth Southgate - featuring four times.

“After the World Cup I was ready to come back and fight for a place at Chelsea," he said to Chelsea TV (as quoted in the ​Independent.)

“The start of the season was difficult but I’m getting chances now and I’m just looking to do the best I can.”

​Loftus-Cheek has now featured for the Blues 14 times in all competitions with an impressive tally of six goals from midfield.

The English international played 90 minutes in a more advanced role in Chelsea’s 1-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over ​Bournemouth on Wednesday night and appeared to thrive, before being forced into his more customary midfield position upon the introductions of ​Pedro and ​Eden Hazard.

That versatility didn't go unnoticed by the Chelsea staff, with assistant boss Gianfranco Zola saying: “I was impressed with him. He’s done very well as one of the strikers, wide players, but also he showed a lot of application and sacrifice when he played as a midfielder.

“He’s gone a long way since the beginning of the season and improved in many ways. He’s a good boy and works very hard on his game," added the Italian.

Despite the impressive performance in the unfamiliar role, Loftus-Cheek’s preference is to play in midfield.

On to the semi final!  Bring on Spurs!  #CFC pic.twitter.com/1uU9bujO6x

— Ruben Loftus-Cheek (@rubey_lcheek) December 19, 2018

He added: “I see myself as a midfielder. That’s where I want to be as I take my career forward. Right now I’m happy to play anywhere, right wing, left wing. I covered a lot of positions (against Bournemouth).

“I’m happy to do it wherever. And I’ll give it my best. I think I’m effective if it’s coming from deep or getting it higher up and making combinations and getting shots off," said the Chelsea academy graduate.

Chelsea will play ​Tottenham in next month’s semi-final of the Carabao Cup after a busy festive fixture frenzy where the Blues play seven games in just 23 days.

Source : 90min