Loftus-Cheek admits Chelsea will have underachieved if they don’t get in Champions League

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has warned his team-mates they will have under-achieved if they fail to return to the Champions League next season.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and two points clear of Arsenal ahead of their final two fixtures of the season against Watford and Leicester.

Maurizio Sarri’s team may yet alternatively qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League if they see of Eintracht Frankfurt in the second-leg of the semi-final this week and then lift the trophy in Baku.

Loftus-Cheek, who excelled during the 1-1 draw in Germany on Thursday night, insists there can be no excuses for Chelsea.

The 23-year-old said: ‘Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world and we definitely need to be playing in the Champions League every season. It’s down to us and if we don’t, I think we’ve underachieved. 

‘We have a good team that has great potential.’ Chelsea’s players have taken up a pre-match Europa League ritual of sitting down to watch the Champions League fixtures and on Wednesday evening, they watched on as Lionel Messi dismantled Liverpool’s dreams.

‘The Champions League is the best of the best,’ Loftus-Cheek smiled. ‘We watch these games as a team and you want to play in the Champions League next season. It is motivational to watch these games and feel the atmosphere. 

Loftus-Cheek is eager to test himself against the best opponents in the Champions League

‘You can feel it watching on the telly, how big the occasion is. As a footballer, those are the game you want to play in. I’d love to chase after Messi. If I ever get the opportunity to play against him, to be on the same pitch, that would be a moment I’d never forget.’

Loftus-Cheek has endured a difficult campaign, first having to battle to break into Sarri’s chosen team and then his second half of the season has been hampered by back trouble. 

Sarri explained on Thursday evening that Loftus-Cheek’s persistent back problem needs to be managed rather than cured. The midfielder has a curve in the spine in his lower back and he has suffered spasms since he was a teenager.

He has started back-to-back Chelsea matches only once this season when he played against Brighton and West Ham in the space of five days but he is on course to record his highest number of minutes played in a campaign. He has also taken up yoga to ease the pain.

Loftus-Cheek has struggled with back trouble but revealed that he is feeling good

‘My confidence has grown with my fitness,’ Loftus-Cheek said. ‘The last time I played a full season, I was 17. And that was the year I played half a season because I moved up to the first team, so I don’t think I’ve ever played a whole season, even through my younger days as well. 

So it’s been a difficult journey. I’ve learned a lot about my body and how to take care of it.

‘I’m not missing training sessions. Sometimes it’s modified, especially after a game. I won’t do a full session. It’s up to me and how I’m feeling. The recovery time, especially now when I’m feeling good. I’ve not had surgery.. That’s the last resort. I don’t want to do any surgery on my back but I won’t need to, because I feel good.’