Tuchel not satisfied Loftus-Cheek yet to reach full potential

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has said he is not satisfied with the fact that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is yet to reach his full potential.

The England international received regular game time this season, making 16 starts and 17 substitute appearances in all competitions, while the club stalwart scored an important goal in the victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

However, Tuchel said that he will continue to demand more from him, claiming that the versatile academy graduate ‘needs to unleash the monster in him’ to play to his full capabilities.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: “He is influential, and has been involved in goals lately, but he needs to push himself to the limit, that is the challenge because he can be so physical.

“He had a bit of a shy game against Arsenal and a very calm first half against Crystal Palace, and then suddenly in the second half he stepped up in dribbling, ball recoveries, and suddenly the crowd was there and the momentum was there, and that is what we demand from him.

“He is, in general, a very shy and calm person, but he needs to discover this monster in him and unleash this on a regular basis because it is absolutely necessary. It’s not enough to just be on the pitch. it might be if you just regard his last years, it might seem as a first step and it is good that he is a regular player, but I’m not happy because this is not enough and we cannot let him think that this is enough.”