SM
Liverpool vs. Man City: 12 hrs 5 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Ben Chilwell: 'Champions League final brought players closer'

:Headline: Ben Chilwell: 'Champions League final brought players closer':
Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Mason Mount, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling played in the showpiece.
Sports Mole

Ben Chilwell says the Champions League final has made Chelsea and Manchester City players closer rather than created any awkwardness in the England camp.

The sides went toe-to-toe in Porto just a week and a half ago, with Kai Havertz's effort enough to seal the Blues a 1-0 victory against the Premier League champions.

Chilwell, Reece James and Mason Mount produced impressive performances in Chelsea's triumph against a City side featuring Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling.

The players have gone from rivals to team-mates as England gear up for Sunday's Euro 2020 opener against Croatia, with Chilwell saying there has been no hangover from the result in Portugal.

Asked if they had spoken about the Champions League final, Chilwell said: "Not really. A few jokes with the City boys! They have instigated them.

"I don't really want to say too much about that! But, yeah, not really too much has been said. A few things but all in light-hearted ways."

Chilwell says he has just about come down to earth after winning the Champions League, with wild celebrations followed by a tranquil pre-Euros break at his mum's house.

"To go home, walk the dog, go watch the local cricket games, it was nice," he said.

Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are battling for the left-back spot (Nick Potts/PA)

"I haven't played cricket for a while so to get home and go and watch the team that I used to play for – Flitwick – was quite nice.

"I just went and sat on the side with my dog. And watched. Flitwick against Ampthill."

That break has the 24-year-old feeling refreshed and ready to battle for the left-back berth with Luke Shaw.

"We get on really well," Chilwell said. "Of course, there will be competition for places in every position.

"It is a very strong England squad with a lot of very good players and I have said it before with me and Marcos (Alonso) at Chelsea.

“To go home, walk the dog, go watch the local cricket games, it was nice. I haven't played cricket for a while so to get home and go and watch the team that I used to play for – Flitwick – was quite nice”
- Ben Chilwell

"I have had it with Christian Fuchs at Leicester for two or so years, and in both cases it made me a better player.

"When you are fighting for your shirt every day in training, you are fighting to get that shirt. It improves you as a player and Luke will have the same mindset if you asked him.

"And if that is the same all over the pitch with two or three players fighting for one shirt, of course there are only 11 shirts and people desperate to play the first game against Croatia.

"We have a week's training now and it will be a very competitive week's training where everyone is going to want to push each other.

"There are only a few players that can play out of a very strong squad so going back to mine and Luke's situation, we get on very well and are excited.

"In a weird way it is quite fun pushing each other and training to get better and whoever plays on the day will give their best and the other player will be very supportive."

Chilwell would love to be the left-back called upon against Croatia on Sunday, when England will step out at a major tournament on home soil for the first time in 25 years.

"A final in Wembley, in your home country," he added.

"With potentially fans back in the stadium, hopefully, after what's been a difficult year for the whole country – there's not much more motivation than that to give everyone a bit of happiness and pride this summer."

body check tags ::

amp_article__450817 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-09 21:57:39:
html db last update - 2021-06-09 21:57:39 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Ben Chilwell

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
LF
Read Next:
Super League six 'agree a combined £22m settlement'
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Ben Chilwell Luke Shaw Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Super League six 'agree a combined £22m settlement'
Seven-goal spectacular! Arsenal hit five on the road in West Ham slaughter
Major January sale? Arsenal 'receive enquiry' for first-team defender
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante receives Saudi Arabia offer?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Arsenal1374226141225
3Manchester CityMan City127232217523
4Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton136522217523
5Chelsea126422314922
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest136431613322
7Brentford136252623320
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
9Aston Villa125431919019
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle135441414019
11Bournemouth135352019118
12Fulham125341717018
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham134361724-715
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester132471627-1110
17Crystal Palace131661118-79
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves132382232-109
19Ipswich TownIpswich131661324-119
20Southampton1312101025-155
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man United to battle Chelsea and Juventus for in-form Premier League striker?

1

MU

Lazy Kylian Mbappe? Real Madrid reportedly ignored his poor physical condition

2

LK

Preview: Sevilla vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PS

"Very bad news": Arteta gives Gabriel, Merino and Lewis-Skelly injury update

4

&B

Advantage Man United? Arsenal suffer two blows before crunch clash

5

AM

Seven-goal spectacular! Arsenal hit five on the road in West Ham slaughter

6

SS

Team News: Liverpool vs. Man City injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

7

TN

No Ruben revival: Man United 32-year-old on verge of exit?

8

NR

Preview: Fenerbahce vs. Gaziantep - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PF

Forest looking to extend 25-year streak in Ipswich fixture

10

FL


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .