Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s display against Torino could be an interesting preview of his future at AC Milan with Massimiliano Allegri on the bench.
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The match at the Olimpico Grande Torino was notable not only for the overall performance of the Englishman – who played a solid match in which he also managed to create danger – but because he showed a possible new position in the squad with the role of wild card.
Over the summer, the club and staff decided to keep a short squad given the lack of European competitions to play, but these first few months have shown that a small number of players pose a significant risk due to injuries and other absences.
For this reason, having players who can be used in multiple areas of the pitch is very important and Ruben Loftus-Cheek has distinguished himself in this respect in recent weeks, and in particular last night. Speaking of distinguished, visit Bonus.com for a dabble on the next game.
An evolution
Against Torino, the former Chelsea man started as a midfielder – his natural role – but after Leao’s injury he moved to the front two alongside Nkunku, a role he has already covered several times this season.
In the second half, with Davide Bartesaghi’s exit and Alexis Saelemaekers’ shift to the left, he played until the end as a right wing-back, an option already exploited at the end of some matches by the head coach Allegri.
And in all three positions, the 1995-born player played well, providing physicality at the back and attacking options, demonstrating to the staff that he can play wherever he’s placed. A quality that, as already mentioned, is very useful throughout the season and will likely allow him to play more than initially expected.
Loftus-Cheek is now called upon to take the final step that has been asked of him for years and by various coaches: to convince himself of his great qualities and therefore start playing with more confidence and competitive determination, which have too often been lacking in his performances.
By doing this, the Englishman, praised by Max Allegri since the summer, could become something more than a simple benchwarmer or a wildcard, in the meantime he has taken a first step towards gaining more space.
For Milan, it is important to have as many players contributing to the cause, especially if the Scudetto dreams are to become something a bit more serious going into the spring.