Highly-rated Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek says he has taken criticism from Jose Mourinho on board and hopes to use it as motivation to play more regularly next season.
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The midfielder was blasted by the Blues manager for his poor performance in the post-season friendly against Sydney FC last month.
He was hauled off just 25 minutes after coming on as a substitute, with Mourinho questioning his attitude [via Telegraph Sport].
However, Loftus-Cheek says he agrees with those comments and admits it served as a reminder that he can’t afford to rest on his laurels:
“I listened to what the manager said and I wasn’t at the level. I need to do better. I need to do better if I want to play for Chelsea,” he told Telegraph Sport.
“For me that is a reminder that I have to work hard to get in the team. I just need to do my best.”
“I will listen to him and learn from him every way I can. I really want to work hard now.”
“I just need to have a good pre-season. Chelsea is always hard to break into but I believe in myself and if I work hard then hopefully things will go well,” Lotfus-Cheek added.
The 19-year-old has been tipped to have a great future and was handed his full first-team debut against Liverpool in the Blues’ penultimate home game of the season.
He went on to feature in the last two games of the campaign and that earned him a call-up to the England U21 squad for the European Championships in the Czech Republic this summer.
After being a unused sub in the opener against Portugal, Loftus-Cheek came off the bench to help the young Three Lions beat Sweden 1-0 on Sunday evening.