Thomas Tuchel was reportedly stunned by how little Ruben Loftus-Cheek had played for Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek looked like he would finally leave Chelsea for good this summer after the club's purchase of Saul Niguez.
The 25-year-old spent last season at Fulham and had previous been with Crystal Palace on loan.
But Loftus-Cheek looks set to stay in Tuchel's side after an eye-catching performance in the 3-1 win over Southampton last weekend.
According to The Athletic, Tuchel was shocked Loftus-Cheek hadn't been used more regularly by his former managers, telling the player during pre-season: "You are special. I cannot believe you haven't played more for Chelsea."
Tuchel hasn't been shy publicly about his admiration for Loftus-Cheek, comparing the Englishman to former Blues midfielder Michael Ballack.
The Blues academy graduate now seems poised to finally reach his immense potential after a frustrating few years in west London.
Need a VPN? Or seeking to switch? Then support Tribal Football by clicking here to sign up with our official partners NordVPN. Not only will you receive the best VPN experience, but also great discounts by signing up via Tribal Football. Thanks for your support!