Graham Potter has declared that Ben Chilwell is set for an important role at Chelsea under his stewardship, despite competition from a familiar figure in Marc Cucurella. The former Brighton boss has been impressed by Chilwell's attitude in the short time they have worked together.
The ex-Leicester City defender has struggled for playing time this term and has started just one Premier League match, on the opening day of the season against Everton, since Cucurella's arrival. Chilwell scored and assisted in Chelsea's last league outing against West Ham in the opening days of September to earn a start in the Champions League for Thomas Tuchel's final match as manager in defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
A start in Potter's opening bow against Red Bull Salzburg did not follow. Cucurella started on the left of a back three with Raheem Sterling taking the role of wing-back albeit with limited defensive responsibilities. While international duty saw him have to watch play from the sidelines twice under Gareth Southgate's England watch.
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Chelsea's head coach has got to see Chilwell in action since his arrival however, with the defender completing 90 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
"I've been really impressed with him, his attitude has been fantastic," said Potter. "Of course it's frustrating not to play but he's intelligent enough to know he's had a long injury and it's about step by step getting to his full fitness. He played a behind-closed-doors game for us, 90 minutes. I've no doubt about him physically, it's just for him to be ready to play. I'm sure he will. He's an important member of the team, that's how I see it, I can't make any comment about anything else outside of Chelsea, but for us he's an important player."
Christian Pulisic has found himself in a similar situation this term with just a single start in 2022/23. The US international was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge over the summer due to his role in the team, and with his autobiography set to come out in October, criticised Thomas Tuchel's handling of him.
Potter suggested he could read the book as he continues to learn about his players, but laid down the gauntlet that the American's offering would have to be 'entertaining'. Ultimately though, the new Chelsea boss expects football to dictate Pulisic's place in the team and has suggest he has had positive conversations with his new charge thus far.
The 47-year-old said: "I can't comment on the book necessarily or what he's said, I think players go through periods of their careers where they have to suffer a little bit for whatever reason and don't get their gametime that they would like and it's part of the job, it's part of the sign up to being a Premier League. It's not straightforward to be a regular in a top four team.
"That's not to say you don't understand the player's frustration when they don't play. That's what they want to do, that's what makes them happy. I can only comment on him in terms of how he's been with me. Really positive, he's an intelligent guy, articulate, knows how to express himself. My conversation with him has been good and positive, I'm not going to judge anybody on what has happened in the past, I'm going to make my own mind up. Football hopefully decides."
While Potter has spoke highly of the group he has come into, and how welcoming they have been for him since his arrival in west London, it is impossible to ignore the uncomfortable situation that remains at his former club. At the end of the transfer window Billy Gilmour made the move from Chelsea to Brighton, in which Potter was likely to have been a draw.
"I think the uncomfortable bit about it is the timing of my opportunity here so close after the window closed," said Potter.
"That's never ideal. It's part of life in football but obviously I wish him well. My first impressions of him were that he's a top lad, a really good guy and we know the talent he's got, so hopefully, fingers crossed, he can do well there."
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