Joe Cole claimed Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was ‘excellent’ for the Blues during their Champions League win over Malmo, and also praised Ben Chilwell for his recent performances.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are on the brink of the knockout stages after beating their Swedish opponents 1-0 on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea dominated possession throughout the game and won it through Hakim Ziyech’s second-half strike, after he tapped in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s excellent cross.
Former Blues midfielder Cole described the win as ‘routine’ and highlighted Loftus-Cheek, after the 25-year-old produced an impressive display on his first start in the competition for six years.
“It was routine, they got the job done,” Cole told BT Sport. “It wasn’t amazing but there were a lot of positives to take.
“Ruben Loftus-Cheek was excellent, he delivered tonight. Callum [Hudson-Odoi] made an impact. They got the points in the bag and they can focus on the weekend now.”
Speaking before the game Cole revealed he’s a ‘big fan’ of Blues left-back Chilwell, the former Leicester City star is enjoying a purple patch in his career after notching four goals in his last seven games.
Cole added: “I’m a big fan of his, to come off the Euros, I know he was very disappointed.
“He’s come back and found himself behind Marcos Alonso, that’s tough as a footballer and you’ve got to dig in and take your chances.
“He’s looked fit and he’s ideal for that left-wing back role because he’s so good in the final third, some of his finishers have been like a centre-forward.
“He’s got that composure. I’m pleased for him because he’s a top, top player.”