Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley celebrates the first goal of the English FA Cup quarter-final match between Leicester City and Chelsea on June 28, 2020 at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England. (Photo by Tim Keeton / POOL / AFP) / LIMITED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, schedule lists, club / league logos or live services. Online use in the game is limited to 120 images. Another 40 pictures can be used in the extension. No video emulation. The use of social media in the game is limited to 120 pictures. Another 40 pictures can be used in the extension. No use in betting publications, games or publications of individual clubs / leagues / players. / (Photo by TIM KEETON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Ross Barkley has changed so much since English football’s return that it is believed he could turn a corner.
Two years ago, Chelsea bet on a 24-year-old from Everton. As a Liverpool man, he was destined for size, and although it was difficult for the youngster to leave his childhood club, he moved to the country’s capital with this career growth in mind.
Ross Barkley’s move to Chelsea was seen as a low-risk, high-reward purchase for the English elite club. The fee was only £ 15m, so despite the course of his blues career, the club always had the opportunity to put Barkley in the back pocket at a profit. A few months ago, it looked like Chelsea was ready to benefit from the midfielder. But is Barkley finally transforming himself into a blues kit and a few encouraging words from his gaffer after his best play, into the incredible talent that many have seen him at Goodison Park?
Under Frank Lampard, Barkley has become the attacking threat that he really is. Barkley is a legitimate midfielder, just like his top gunner. Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte could not find this page from him, which led to rumors about his exit. However, Lampard has channeled the inner Evertonian to Barkley, as the now 26-year-old gives insights into what he was many years ago.
If there is a manager in Europe who knows something about creating coincidences from the middle of the park, it is the current manager of Chelsea. Maybe Barkley just needed a coach who believed in him and knew his style of play. Lampard has no information about what the media or fans say about the veterans. There is no doubt about his talent and it seems as if he will finally get the chance to show it and use it properly.
In a few months, the English international has developed into a batsman for the blues. He scores important goals, creates chances of possession and works hard to meet Lampard’s urgent needs when he’s not on the ball. Check out the blues games against Aston Villa and Leicester City to see examples of this Barkley selfless clutch game lately.
He may not have the hype around like some of his teammates like Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic do, but Barkley has the raw talent to compete with these stars. The 26-year-old finally broke into the Chelsea team by game due to an enormous speed of work and attitude.
The Ross Barkley everyone saw in Everton was really a special player. He is in his prime at Chelsea but still has to reach that limit. Regardless, if he can stay healthy and stay on the field, he appears to be heading towards that level. If Lampard continues to push the midfielder, the blues could have a rough diamond in the next seasons.
If nothing else, Barkley earned another year or two to prove himself at the highest level of English football. The past few months have shown fans that Prime Barkley is in there somewhere; and Lampard is just starting to scratch the surface of his glory.
