Ross Barkley has pinpointed a match during training as a major turning point in his Chelsea career.
After struggling for game time at the start of the season, Barkley has since featured in three of the west London club’s last five matches in all competitions, including a start in the Blues’ 1-1 draw at home to Burnley earlier this month.
Barkley believes it was a training session back in September that really made Tuchel step up and take notice of him. Speaking in an interview to the club’s official website, Barkley has given his thoughts on the turning point for him this season under Thomas Tuchel.
"Just before the first international break I was training really well and then we had an in-house game. I scored a couple of goals and created a few and when he spoke to me afterwards I felt that he was impressed. Since then I was a major part of the group," Barkley said.
"It was just about showing my quality and being consistent and doing my extra work, but that was the turning point, just before the days off for the first international break. When you train under this manager he takes notice and he rewards you, which I’d heard from the lads who worked with him last season before I came back.
"It is great because some managers aren’t necessarily like that. If you train well he does reward you, but not in a sense that you get rewarded just for training well, you’ve got to perform when you get the chance as well."
