Chelsea
midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek says his body is his biggest strength as well
as his "weakness" and insists he will not rush his comeback from injury.
The 24-year-old has not been seen on the pitch since suffering a ruptured
Achilles in May 2019, a cruel end to what he calls his "breakthrough season"
at Stamford Bridge.
Loftus-Cheek's rehabilitation this year had stepped up with a series of
outings for the club's U23s, but the enforced football shutdown following
the coronavirus pandemic has delayed a comeback.
Despite that obvious frustration, Loftus-Cheek is staying positive and is
willing to be patient in his recovery.
In a video - filmed before the coronavirus pandemic - Loftus Cheek met
England rugby captain Owen Farrell and Team GB sprinter Adam Gemili to
discuss his road back to full fitness.
"I have to manage my body, and that's what I've learned a lot about," he
said. "So it's working smart, working hard but listening to your body as
well.
"My physical presence - how powerful I am - is my biggest strength, but my
body is also my weakness.
"The mental side of being injured is hard. Going through the tough times it
hardens you and makes you a better player.
"I have to have the mindset of not regretting those things. I have those
moments: 'who would I be now if I hadn't had those injuries?' But I have to
counter that as well and say 'who would I be without those injuries?'
"There's a right way to think, and a wrong way to think. You have to
practise, it's a skill, to think properly.
"I just really didn't want to rush. The hardest part for me has been
actually watching the games. Seeing them play, and seeing them win, and lose
in the bad times, that's so hard.
"Playing for Chelsea, it's deep. And that feeling of playing for the shirt,
that really comes out when you're on the pitch."
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