GdS: ‘I hope so’ – Loftus-Cheek’s exploits noticed in England as goals continue | OneFootball

When AC Milan signed Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea during the last summer transfer window, it is possible that even they didn’t see things going as well as they have in season one.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, England fans have begun to notice the numbers that Loftus-Cheek has been putting up and have asked why Gareth Southgate is not including him in the squad, especially with the European Championship just around the corner.

Loftus-Cheek’s parable is very similar to that of Christian Pulisic’s, given he was picked up from Chelsea by Milan and returned to playing at his. His last appearances with the Three Lions dates back to November 2018, twenty minutes in a friendly match against Pulisic’s USA, when the two would not have even remotely imagined sharing a future with the Rossoneri.

Meanwhile, while waiting for Southgate to make his definitive choices, RLC can try to tempt him again: he just needs to continue as he is doing, which is being an added attacker for Stefano Pioli.

With the one versus Fiorentina he reached 10 goals for the season, a figure which equals his personal best in the 2018-19 season at Chelsea. This time, however, there are still seven league games to go (against Lecce he will be disqualified) and – in the worst case scenario – two in the Europa League.

“I feel good in my current role. Pioli continually gives me feedback , also through videos. I work with the coach and his staff on the analysis of the my game. And then there’s Ibra, who tells me to get myself into the box and be decisive,” Ruben said in a recent interview.

“The Euros? I hope so, but at the moment it seems unlikely that I will be called up. I would like to return to playing for England, but the objective is to do well for Milan. Also because England is only a consequence of my performances at Milan.”

Well, judging by the results, the midfielder is having a lot of fun interpreting this particular position created for him by Pioli, one of the various tactical keys that the head coach has created in his over four years.

In terms of static positions, in the 4-2-3-1 Loftus-Cheek would be the man in the centre attacking midfield role. In theory, the attacking midfielder should provide to the striker and essentially be the link between the midfield and attack.

However, what the 28-year-old also offers is grit, physicality and goals, because obviously acting in more advanced territories than a traditional midfielder, he finds himself closer to goal. The rest is done by his movement, positional sense and ability to occupy spaces where marking is less dense.

RLC is the one who pops up in front of you when you don’t expect it, or when you’re guarding someone else. He is a cornerstone of this Milan now, so much so that against Lecce, without him, the team will need to be reorganised tactically.

In 2024 he is, by some distance, the most prolific Rossoneri player with nine of his 10 goals scored starting from 7 January (Empoli). Followed by Leao (7), Pulisic (5) and Giroud (4).

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