Monday 13 November 2017 14:06, UK
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s father says Jose Mourinho "held him back" during his time as Chelsea manager.
The 21-year-old, who has played eight times this season while on loan at Crystal Palace, impressed on his England debut against Germany on Friday, earning the man-of-the-match award.
Mourinho handed Loftus-Cheek his senior Chelsea debut in 2014 in a Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon but the midfielder only made a further eight appearances under the Portuguese before he left Stamford Bridge for a second time in December 2015.
However, his father, Trevor, believes Loftus-Cheek would have flourished if he had been working under someone like Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
"Jose Mourinho held him back," he told the Daily Mail.
"He should have been playing. Everyone behind the scenes was asking: 'why isn't he playing?' If Ruben was playing for Mauricio Pochettino, he'd have 70, 80, 90 first team appearances by now.
"He is like a Rolls Royce. He used to win all of the player of the year awards.
"But once Chelsea clapped eyes on him they knew what he was. They knew he was special."
