Ben Chilwell emerged as one of the top performers in Mauricio Pochettino’s Gacon test as Chelsea players began work at Cobham. That is according to Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard. So, what is the latest on Ben Chilwell at Chelsea? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the £50m man is a very fit footballer – he even used to run for England at school. Now, Chilwell has maintained that superb fitness over the summer, as he returns to Cobham to smash Pochettino’s Gacon test.
For those of you asking what the Gacon test is exactly, it was invented by Georges Gacon, a French fitness coach who worked at PSG before the Argentine signed for the French giants during his playing days. Pochettino later adopted the Gacon test to use for himself as a manager, having experienced it as a player.
It involves getting the players to run for 45 seconds before having a 15 second rest – the distance they cover then increases 6.3 metres each time from an initial 150 metres, with the aim being to improve endurance, according to The Athletic . Chilwell is said to have been among the best performers in the Gacon test, which bodes very well for Chelsea after the England international missed 13 Premier League games through injury last season.
Pochettino has big plans for Chilwell at Chelsea
According to the Mirror, Pochettino views Chilwell as the ideal left-back for his preferred system, and wants the 26-year-old to become a key player at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Milton Keynes-born defender and Reece James are talented enough to become the best full-back duo in the Premier League, although injuries have prevented both from truly establishing themselves.
Hopefully, Pochettino can have the pair of England internationals available on a weekly basis next term, as Chelsea are a different side when Chilwell and James are fit.