According to Loftus-Cheek, his physical presence is his biggest strength as a player but he admits his body is also his weakness.
Loftus-Cheek has struggled with chronic back problems and he has opened up on how he has to manage long-standing back troubles. “My physical presence, how powerful I am, is my biggest strength,” said Loftus-Cheek.
“But my body is also my weakness. And that’s just what I have to manage. I have to manage my body, and that’s what I’ve learned a lot about.
“So it’s working smart, working hard but listening to your body as well. Be aware of your journey and pay attention to it. The mental side of being injured is hard; it’s hard.
“Going through the tough times it hardens you, and makes you a better player. I have to have the mindset of not regretting those things. “I have those moments: ‘who would I be now if I hadn’t had those injuries? But I have to counter that as well and say ‘who would I be without those injuries?’
“There’s a right way to think, and a wrong way to think. You have to practise, it’s a skill, to think properly. “I just really didn’t want to rush (back from the Achilles injury). The hardest part for me (of being injured) has been actually watching the games.
“Seeing them play, and seeing them win, and lose in the bad times, that’s so hard.
“Playing for Chelsea, it’s deep. And that feeling of playing for the shirt, that really comes out when you’re on the pitch.”