Ex-Crystal Palace loanee outlines how Selhurst Park spell prepared him for Chelsea’s first team
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has outlined how his loan spell at Crystal Palace helped prepare him for life in the Blues’ first team.
Lewisham-born Loftus-Cheek joined Palace as a 21-year-old on a season-long loan under Frank de Boer in the 2017-18 season.
The Dutchman was sacked by Steve Parish just five games into his tenure at Selhurst Park after losing his first four Premier League games.
Former England manager Roy Hodgson replaced De Boer and guided the club to top-flight safety after the Eagles made an unprecedented start to the season by losing their first six Premier League games and failing to score a single goal.
Loftus-Cheek, who became a fans’ favourite with the South Londoners, scored two goals and recorded five assists for Palace throughout the season.
His form with the Eagles saw Loftus-Cheek earn a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England side for the 2018 Russia World Cup.
“It helped me massively,” Loftus-Cheek reflected when asked how his time with the Eagles prepared him for life at Stamford Bridge.
“I was 20 at the time, and I was seeking first-team football. Palace were a team who came up, and Frank de Boer wanted to work with me, and I wanted to work under him.
“He had a good philosophy going into the season. He didn’t have the best start to the season, and Roy [Hodgson] came in.
“I really developed under Roy. I got so much first-team football, and I felt like I had matured as a player.
“I came back ready to be a Chelsea player, so it was a really impactful year for my football [career].”
Patrick Vieira’s Palace take on Loftus-Cheek’s Chelsea side this Saturday at Selhurst Park – it will be Ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter’s first Premier League game in charge of the Blues.
“I love going back,” added the now 26-year-old Loftus-Cheek, who scored Chelsea’s opener in their 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Palace last season.
“I have a connection with the fans still, which is really nice. The stadium is so loud, and it has so much energy in it, which isn’t going to be good for us when we’re going there.
“A lot of really nice memories at Palace, especially scoring there. I look back with happy memories of that place.”
LOFTUS-CHEEK MAIN PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD
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