Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek is delighted to be back playing again despite feeling 'a yard off' on his return to action against Aston Vila.
The midfielder played 55 minutes during his side's 2-1 win at Villa Park in what was his first competitive outing for 13 months.
Loftus-Cheek injured his achilles in May 2019 and was just happy to be back out on the pitch even if he wasn't completely satisfied with his performance.
'Honestly it felt amazing after so long without playing, 13 months since my last competitive game,' Loftus-Cheek told Chelsea's official website. 'To get on the pitch, even though there were no fans and it felt slightly different, it was amazing to feel that competitive spirit again.
'I'm just being grateful to be playing. I started against Aston Villa and I didn't play as well as I wanted to play, but I just came off the pitch thinking I can't be angry about that. I've just been out for 13 months.
'I did feel a yard off at times, physically and mentally, the feel of the game, how you would when you're sharp and playing every week. I couldn't say I felt like that. It's hard to explain. You don't have that smell for the game but it will come back the more I play.
'I wasn't too hard on myself, I'm just happy to play and grateful to be back on the pitch. Slowly as I play more that sharpness will get better, and physically I will feel much better as well.'
Loftus-Cheek impressed in the Blues Project Restart preparations, including a two-goal display in the warm-up friendly against QPR.
While he has been out Chelsea got themselves into a position to secure a top four spot though Champions League football might well have been in the bag had they not been undermined by a repeated failing.
Chelsea's repeated issues when it came to breaking down defensive sides this season left Lampard admitting he felt like a broken record whenever he bemoaned the problem pre-lockdown.
Exciting signings Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will give Chelsea more cutting edge but not until next year. The hope is Loftus-Cheek can get back up to full speed and help more immediately.
W0linhO
0
Ur delusional
Oh sorry! u thought I was talking about cricket? In case u forgot hw to read the app says All Football that's y ur confused
kaybcly
0
Yeah true, but Lampard used inexperience on his comeback. Y start him against Aston Villa in "premier league". Zidane had to bring in Asensio as a sub after out for almost the same time. And that was LA liga. Lampard needs to watch other coaches n learn. That's English football weakness, the locals never learn from the stars among players and coaches that flood their league. Y they look inexperienced in World Cup tournament. Lampard needs to learn n there's no time. He needs to be as clever as he was as a player. Stop with the attackers signing and go for a keeper (Pope from burnley) , fight for koulibaly. Search for CB's, Keep willian loan Abraham out
Ur delusional
W0linhO
0
Yeah true, but Lampard used inexperience on his comeback. Y start him against Aston Villa in "premier league". Zidane had to bring in Asensio as a sub after out for almost the same time. And that was LA liga. Lampard needs to watch other coaches n learn. That's English football weakness, the locals never learn from the stars among players and coaches that flood their league. Y they look inexperienced in World Cup tournament. Lampard needs to learn n there's no time. He needs to be as clever as he was as a player. Stop with the attackers signing and go for a keeper (Pope from burnley) , fight for koulibaly. Search for CB's, Keep willian loan Abraham out
Reebiluz
1
good luck chealsea
yuailorstz
2
welcome back rbc
hiyacenoru
3
take it one day at a time ruben
Yeociknory
1
welcome home RLC
vanderlinde
1
i so happy to come back
Welcome back 😂
Kutbdkotyz
3
We saw him last season his a big addition for us
tinacmnps
4
It is a good signing for Bayern Munich
Bowcdop
2
I think he is a best player, but he needs more time, and he is not supposed to start on today's game against city, I watch him in the last match against aston villa, he didn't perform on his best as when compared before he got injury
alcasa25
0
Piss off mate
i so happy to come back
MANDY92
0
We are also happy to see u back in action, we have been so thirsty of what u do in the pitch but u got to put away the fear of injury" play with free mind not thinking u would got injured again, and give us the best of RLC we know back then. against Villa u actually lack confidence and u were making a lot of mistakes but I really knew it wouldn't be easy to anybody, for a professional like u to have been sidelined due to injury for a year+. Just play free and stay safe. Welcome back "RLC"
geraldktm
1
I like this player, he is a fighter. he is not lazy and if I was a coach I would buy him
a_l_muhammad
1
Welcome back loftus Cheek
vanderlinde
0
very shameful
Piss off mate
WIlliedonsixxxxxxxxx
1
Great
Sandrake
2
come stronger bro
alcasa25
0
very shameful
kajayjay
2
I love RLC. He scored during the indoor friendly and self-play-match and scored in both teams. But against Aston Villa he was totally out of position. I'm sure he'll get his rythmn back soon...
Edoo87
1
good luck
kayapeople
6
Chelsea with young and experience players are the leading club to dominate English football from next season to 5 year's.