Ben Chilwell has opened up on his difficult final months at Chelsea, revealing the emotional and physical toll of training in isolation while waiting for his next opportunity.
The England international, currently on loan at Crystal Palace, joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2020, enjoyed early success at Stamford Bridge, playing a key role in their 2021 Champions League triumph.
However, injuries and managerial changes saw him fall out of favour under coach Enzo Maresca, leading to a frustrating period on the sidelines.
Ben Chilwell on his final months at Chelsea
Speaking to ITV Sport, Ben Chilwell revealed the challenges he faced: “I was training by myself a lot of the days. You’re not involved in the matchday squads and you kind of just wait for the opportunity for when you’re gonna go somewhere.”
For an elite footballer used to competing at the highest level, the experience of being excluded from the first-team setup was a difficult pill to swallow.
Although disappointed, Chilwell remained professional, acknowledging the need to stay sharp ahead of a potential move in the near future. He continued;
“If you go somewhere in January and you’re miles off the pace, you’ve got to put the work in. The only person who is losing out is you.”
Being forced to train alone for months is never easy, and Chilwell, whose only Chelsea minutes this season came in a substitute appearance in a 5-0 win over Barrow Town in a Carabao Cup round 3 clash in Stamford Bridge back in September, admitted that it was mentally challenging.
“Training by yourself a lot for a number of months isn’t easy, but I think the only thing that was keeping me going was I knew I was going to go somewhere, whether that was January or the end of the season.”
It’s clear that the uncertainty surrounding his future was tough, but instead of dwelling on his situation, he used the period to reset both mentally and physically.
Despite feeling sidelined at Chelsea, Chilwell refrained from placing blame on anyone, instead showing maturity and understanding of the club’s decisions.
“There were a lot of circumstances at Chelsea that were not in my control, which I completely respect, but the things I could control was how I came into training every day and how I trained, whether it was by myself or with the group. And that is a reflection on myself.”
Chilwell’s attitude amidst the negativity highlights a level of professionalism that should be respected, as he continued to work hard despite being overlooked by Enzo Maresca.
He has made five Palace appearances following his move in the winter transfer window. His contract at Chelsea does not end until the summer of 2027, meaning he is bound for a return in the summer.
Chelsea and the 28-year-old will have to make a decision on the situation at the end of the season. The most likely solution will be a departure from the club, as Marc Cucurella has made the left-back position his own, seeing off any competition.
There have also been reports in recent days that it is over between Chelsea and Ben Chilwell. The left-back played a total of 107 Chelsea games, scored nine goals and set up 11 others.
Although Ben Chilwell never mentioned anything negative about Chelsea, it is clear he wasn’t also impressed by being left out of the squad. Nevertheless, his professionalism will make him more endearing to the fans and the club, even if they part ways anytime soon.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
