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Chelsea didn't use me properly but now I'm playing the best football of my life

talksport.com, 15 September 2023, 16:31
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was at Chelsea for 19 years before they sold him to AC Milan - now, he's playing some of the best football of his life.

Since moving to AC Milan in June, Loftus Cheek has become one of the club's key players and is set to play a standout role against rivals Inter on Saturday.

Loftus-Cheek struggled to find momentum in the past few seasons at Chelsea and believes that the role the club made him play had not felt right to him.

The England international was used more and more as a wing-back - a role he felt uncomfortable in.

He told DAZN : "I've played in many roles throughout my career.

"In the last two years (at Chelsea) mostly in a defensive position, and it wasn't natural for me.

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"I've always liked having the ball at my feet, having the freedom to create, to be decisive. I couldn't do that in the last two seasons, that way of playing didn't make me happy."

The 27-year-old scored just one goal between 2021 and 2023 in all competitions for Chelsea.

But he admitted feeling much happier in his role at AC Milan.

"Now, I play in a position where I have more freedom, so I feel good," he said.

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He also spoke about his enjoyment of playing alongside ex-teammate and French icon Olivier Giroud.

He said: "I love playing with Olivier because he is very good at holding the ball and scoring with headers."

Loftus-Cheek has been one of AC Milan's standout players so far this season and he showed his potential when he netted an impressive first-half hat-trick in a pre-season friendly.

He will be hoping to continue making a positive impact for the Serie A side when they take on Inter this weekend.

He remarked: "I can't wait to play the derby.

"They are very strong, but so are we: there is always a key to beating the opponent and we are confident that we have the players and the right mentality to win that match."

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