Ben Chilwell reveals the ‘headless’ All Blacks policy instilled by his father when Chelsea said an ‘honest conversation’ with Thomas Tuchel helped him get back in shape
Ben Chilwell has learned lessons from the way the All Blacks have done things with the Chelsea defender in great shape in recent weeks.
Chilwell’s father is from New Zealand and instilled the core values of the national rugby team in his son.
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Chilwell has scored four goals in his last eight games for club and country
The All Blacks have a “no boss” policy which means that no one is greater than their team and they all come together as one unit.
“My dad definitely made me aware of that,” Chilwell said.
“He would have liked to tell me the whole time that the All Blacks are the best team ever to play sports. The way they approach things is very appropriate and the way they tried to raise me relied a lot on their manners and morals.
Wayne Chilwell’s father speaks Maori and can perform the hakka. The Chelsea defender added: “He translated it for me when I was watching their match against the Lions maybe 10 years ago.
“With the All Blacks, he does everything well, takes no shortcuts, and is respectful. Whenever you focus on something, do it right. Do it 100% or don’t do it at all.”
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The New Zealand rugby team that performs Hakka is iconic
The left-back enjoyed an impressive first season as a Chelsea player last season, after arriving at £45m from Leicester City as he helped the Blues win the Champions League.
But despite his European Cup success, he had a frustrating summer as he didn’t play a single minute at Euro 2020 with England reaching the final.
Chilwell then had to wait with Chelsea before finding his marks alongside Thomas Tuchel.
But he is now enjoying a good career in the team – in fact, he is one of the club’s top scorers this season with three goals – and looks likely to get his chance in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, as Luke Shaw suffers a head injury.
“It was tough,” Chilwell said of the summer. “I’ve been asked a lot lately since I started playing and the way I answered is a cliché but it’s football.
“These are things that will happen to the majority of players in their careers as they go through weak moments, strong moments.
“The way I try to look at it, I was disappointed not to play in such a huge competition in England. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.
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Tuchel told Chilwell he was trying too hard
“But the way I’ve been trying to deal with is that it happens to a lot of people in football. I have to make sure I’m ready, I’m going to do a stronger and better job on the other side.
He added, “I think it wasn’t a lot of mental fatigue. I think it was more than that, I couldn’t wait to start playing football again, maybe it was because I wanted it so much.
“The Chelsea manager and I had a very honest conversation where he said to me “You know I feel on my mind while you are right in training, you pay too much to try to get back into the team – we love you here, we know your qualities, relax a bit. You will return to her.”
« Ce qui pour moi était génial à entendre, puis il s’agissait simplement d’être patient et de m’assurer que j’étais prêt pour que lorsque j’ai été appelé à jouer, je puisse faire aux de l’mon Equipped. “
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