Chelsea star defender Ben Chilwell returned to the starting line-up after many weeks on the sidelines for the Carabao Cup tie with League Two opposition Barrow. A game that served as his first of the 2024/25 season. Chilwell started at left-back for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, with some players further released due to their lack of match fitness. The 5-0 victory wasn’t only sure for Chelsea’s entry into the next round of the cup but also gave Chilwell another opportunity to dig his skills out.
A Return to Look After
The player’s exclusion from Chelsea’s squad at the start of the campaign had raised a bit of raised eyebrows. Especially with his previous displays at Stamford Bridge. Journalists have severally reported that Maresca had benched Chilwell from the first team during the summer transfer window as the club reportedly sought to ship him out of the door. The 27-year-old left-back was allegedly targeted for a transfer, but the deal was not concluded, and Chilwell remained at Chelsea.
This uncertainty notwithstanding, Chilwell’s agents are still taking a glimpse of the possibilities that lie with transfer options in the near future. For now, though, the English defender is back with his squad. And last night’s Carabao Cup clash against Barrow gave him another chance to prove himself once again.
A Performance To Applaud
Coming on at half-time, it seemed like Chilwell wanted to assert himself in the game. Even though Chelsea were already leading comfortably when he came on, Chilwell ensured that his side remained in control of the match against Barrow. Chilwell’s energy, precision, and determination while running up and down the left flank showed he still has much value for the team. There was certainly a desire to impress the home crowd at Stamford Bridge. And even the fans welcomed him warmly, applauding his return to the pitch.
After the game, Chilwell uploaded his message on Instagram, using this platform to comment on his long-awaited comeback. The post was tagged with a caption about his return, filled with excitement from the fans and teammates as well. Among them is Jadon Sancho, who posted a crossed fingers emoji with a heart. This showed his gratitude to the defender. A silent reaction from Sancho mirrored the emotions of so many Chelsea fans—feeling relief and hope that Chilwell, for the time being at least, would continue producing crucial performances for Chelsea.
What Lies Ahead For Chilwell
As impressive as he has appeared, questions still surround Chilwell’s long-term prospects at Chelsea. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chilwell’s agents are already planning potential summer moves for him next year in 2025. This would seem to suggest that although Maresca might have him back in his plans for now. But Chilwell’s stay in London might not be much of a long-term one.
Chelsea’s move to drop him from the first team in the summer seemed to suggest that the club would want to look elsewhere when it came to the former Leicester City man. However, his efforts and professionalism in training over the summer seems to have paid off. And Chilwell might be very much back into the fold. Whether this is a signal for a longer stay remains to be seen.
Can Chilwell Be A Part Of The Super Sub Plan?
With Ben Chilwell coming back into action, it says a lot about Chelsea’s depth of quality under Enzo Maresca. He has made 11 changes for the Barrow tie. A mix of starters and fringe players had meant Chelsea were expected to fall short. But they had gone on to win in style by 5-0. And this strength could prove to be quite crucial for them in their chase for silverware this season.
It will also be interesting to see how Maresca would cope with his squad as the season unfolds and Chilwell, for instance, can stake out a more regular place in the starting lineup. So far, though, his first appearance of the season is a boost to both the player and the club.
Conclusion
It was a tale of resilience and desire, but Ben Chilwell is back on Chelsea’s side after missing the opening games of the campaign. Still, though his future at Stamford Bridge may be questionable, his display here against Barrow says he has the hunger to fight for his position. Only time will tell, and hopefully, Chilwell can put in a few more declarations on the pitch and get his way back into Maresca’s plan for the rest of the season.
Jadon Sancho’s simple yet powerful statement on social media proves that among football players, friendship with mutual respect goes a long way. In the future, whether Ben Chilwell will be there as a long-term player at Chelsea or not, his teammates and fans will certainly celebrate him and cheer for him to win.
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