Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has said he ‘respects’ Thomas Tuchel’s decision should he prefer Marcos Alonso in the starting XI.
The left-back, who was signed from Leicester City last summer, was the Blues’ first-choice last term.
He made 42 appearances for the reigning European champions last season under first Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel but has been limited to just four outings during the current campaign - only one of those coming in the Premier League.
However, the 24-year-old did mark his return to the side with a goal in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory against Southampton at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
With Alonso regularly having been picked ahead of him this season, Chilwell has admitted that he respects Tuchel’s decision but has told of his readiness should he be called upon by the German.
Talking to Chelsea’s official website following victory against the Saints, the 24-year-old said: “I wouldn’t say it’s been frustrating.
“It’s about being patient, training hard. Marcos [Alonso] has been playing well and I have had to respect that. I’ve been training hard to make sure when I get my chance, I’m ready.
“I felt fine on Saturday fitness wise. I’ve been training hard and making sure my fitness is 100 per cent, so when I did have the opportunity to play I was fine to play 90, and make sure I could make the same runs in the 90th minute as I did in the first minute.”
Despite Chilwell’s lack of first team minutes throughout the season so far, he appears to have done enough to impress England boss Gareth Southgate, having been called up into the latest Three Lions squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary as a replacement for injured club teammate Reece James.
