Ben Chilwell is aiming to deliver “the biggest middle finger” to those that have written him off after targeting a place in England’s World Cup squad.
Chilwell is in the process of relaunching his career at Strasbourg after leaving Chelsea during the last transfer window following an injury-plagued ending to his career at Stanford Bridge.
Exiled to the club’s ‘bomb squad’ under Enzo Maresca, Chilwell opted to leave and start again in France. He admits going to the World Cup remains a long shot but is determined to give himself the best opportunity.
He told BBC Sport: “What a story it would be if I went to the World Cup after I was in the [Chelsea] bomb squad and everyone had counted me out 12 months prior.
“It would just be the biggest middle finger to so many people, which to me is a motivation. Chelsea were honest with me and there’s no resentment, but of course I’ve got an ego, so it would be a nice feeling to prove some people wrong.”
Tuchel has spoken to Chilwell about potential England return
Chilwell won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, playing under current Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, before ACL and hamstring problems saw him jettisoned by both club and country.
Tuchel has form for picking former Chelsea players who have gone abroad – AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was recently selected in a left-field move – and Chilwell confirmed he has spoken to the German regarding his chances.
“Probably 99 out of 100 people are saying, ‘No, he’s not going, and it is impossible to go to the World Cup’,” he said.
“We’ve had conversations since he’s got the job at England. I’ll try and word it right – it has been said that it’s not out of the equation.”
No beef with Maresca, insists Chilwell
Strasbourg are fifth in Ligue 1 with Chilwell playing in all but two of their league games this season. The 28-year-old insists he has no issues with Maresca despite being eased out of the London club due to the Italian’s belief he could not play an inverted full-back role.
“I completely knew I could have done the role,” Chilwell said.
“I played centre mid until I was 12 and even with Thomas [Tuchel], when we played in a back three, I was making runs into striker positions, or because Toni Rudiger liked to drive with the ball, I’d go inside. I was able to do it – I just didn’t have the opportunity.”
Strasbourg play Crystal Palace – with whom Chilwell had a loan spell last season – tomorrow night in the Europa League.
