Ben Chilwell plots ‘Biggest middle finger’ World Cup comeback from Strasbourg

Ben Chilwell grins when he says it, but there is steel behind the smile. A place on England’s plane to the 2026 World Cup, he admits, “would just be the biggest middle finger to so many people”. After a brutal spell in Chelsea’s so-called bomb squad and years of injury frustration, the 28-year-old is rebuilding his career at Strasbourg and quietly aiming for the most unlikely of comebacks.

Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Strasbourg’s Conference League clash with his former loan club Crystal Palace, Chilwell laid out the challenge in front of him. Most observers, he accepts, think his England hopes are finished. Yet new national team boss Thomas Tuchel – the same coach who guided him to a Champions League title at Chelsea – has told him a recall is “not out of the equation”.

Chilwell knows he has work to do. But with two injury-free years behind him, a regular starting role in Ligue 1 and a rediscovered love of football in eastern France, the left-back is convinced his story at the highest level is not over. The only question now is whether he can turn a personal reset into a World Cup redemption arc.

Chilwell doesn’t hide how personal this feels. Being left out under Enzo Maresca, dropped into a separate training group and effectively told he was surplus to requirements hurt – even if he insists there is no bitterness towards Chelsea.

“What a story it would be if I went to the World Cup after I was in the [Chelsea] bomb squad and everyone had counted me out 12 months prior,” he said. “Chelsea were honest with me and there’s no resentment, but of course I’ve got an ego, so it would be a nice feeling to prove some people wrong.”

Cruciate ligament damage in late 2021 and a torn hamstring that ruled him out of Qatar 2022 wrecked his momentum. By the time Maresca arrived in 2024, Chelsea were shifting towards inverted full-backs and a different type of build-up. Chilwell believes he could have adapted – he played in midfield as a kid and regularly moved inside under Tuchel – but never truly got the chance.

“Probably 99 out of 100 people are saying, ‘No, he’s not going, it’s impossible to go to the World Cup’,” he admitted. “We’ve had conversations since [Tuchel] got the job at England. It’s been said that it’s not out of the equation.”

When the BlueCo ownership group moved him from Chelsea to sister club Strasbourg on deadline day, some wondered whose decision it really was. Chilwell is adamant the move was his call.

“It was my decision,” he said. “I had other clubs that had no links to Chelsea, and I chose to come here because of the conversation with the manager.”

Those other options reportedly included Everton and a permanent switch to Crystal Palace, where he won the FA Cup on loan but struggled for minutes. At Strasbourg, under former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior, the promise of a clear role and fresh responsibility won him over.

“It wasn’t my top choice, but then I spoke to the manager… it was only a 10-minute call and I rang my agent straight away and said, ‘Yes, let’s get Strasbourg done.’”

Since arriving, Chilwell has become a key figure in one of Europe’s youngest squads. Strasbourg sit fifth in Ligue 1, are targeting Champions League qualification and fancy themselves – along with Palace – as Conference League contenders. Off the pitch, he is learning French, immersing himself in local life and acting as a mentor in a dressing room packed with prospects.

Chilwell is honest enough to say he “definitely suffered” from Maresca’s tactical shift, where full-backs step into midfield to dictate play. But he also pushes back on the idea that he couldn’t do it.

“I played centre mid until I was 12,” he noted. “Even with Thomas [Tuchel], when we played in a back three, I was making runs into striker positions… I was able to do it – I just didn’t have the opportunity.”

His time in the bomb squad underlined that frustration. Training with a small group of “seven or eight internationals” – including Raheem Sterling and João Félix – kept the quality high, but there were no real match-style sessions. “I didn’t sprint once,” Chilwell said of an eight-week pre-season. “No 11 v 11.”

In our view, having followed Chelsea closely through the Maresca transition, Chilwell became a casualty of the club’s broader reset rather than a simple form judgment. Younger, resale-friendly options were prioritised and his injuries made him an easy player to move on. Although some will argue that’s ruthless but fair, it ignores how difficult it is for full-backs to hit top rhythm without proper match minutes.

If leaving Chelsea felt like the end of a chapter, Strasbourg has quickly become the start of something else. Chilwell calls the move a “pretty perfect fit” and has been surprised by the quality and intensity of Ligue 1.

“I’m definitely shocked at the quality,” he said. “There are a lot of people going straight to the top here, and I include the manager in that. The league is good and the stadiums are full.”

He also admits this overseas adventure has reignited his love of the game. After the death of his father Wayne in 2023, football briefly felt smaller, less important. His mum’s reminder – that nothing replaces the feeling of walking out onto the pitch – stuck with him, but it took Strasbourg’s 60,000-strong crowds and consistent starts to fully bring that joy back.

Chilwell has also taken on a leadership role, warning younger team-mates about the traps of social media. He no longer has access to his own accounts, leaving everything to his agency after years of chasing negative comments online. It’s the sort of maturity that suggests he’s ready to be more than just a left-back in this group; he’s becoming one of its voices.

From my experience covering England squads around major tournaments, full-back is a position where late surges can change the picture quickly. At left-back in particular, injuries and form swings have repeatedly opened doors. In that context, Chilwell’s chances are slimmer than they once were – but far from impossible.

The key, in our view, will be perception. Playing for Strasbourg rather than a Premier League giant inevitably places him slightly out of the spotlight. However, Tuchel knows exactly what he offers, both tactically and in the dressing room. If Chilwell stays fit, plays 30+ games and helps Strasbourg into Europe, it becomes much harder to dismiss him as yesterday’s man.

There is a nuance here: although some fans might see a World Cup recall as purely romantic, Tuchel’s England will need experienced voices who have lived Champions League and trophy-winning pressure. Chilwell brings that, along with a genuine hunger to prove people wrong. The question isn’t whether he’s motivated; it’s whether he can stay on the pitch long enough to make his case.

Chilwell bristles at the idea he’s an “old” player at 28. “I’m really in my prime,” he laughs – and he’s right. Modern full-backs often peak between 27 and 30, when physical capacities blend with positional knowledge. What stands out now is how clear he is about his priorities: stay healthy, perform for Strasbourg, let the rest follow.

His story also shows how a change of environment can reset a career. The combination of a trusting coach, a passionate fanbase and a slightly less intense media glare has allowed him to rebuild confidence piece by piece. Although some might question swapping the Premier League spotlight for Alsace, the early signs suggest it was exactly what he needed.

In the short term, Chilwell’s focus is clear: keep Strasbourg pushing for Europe and stay injury-free. Strong Conference League nights – like the looming reunion with Crystal Palace – will help build his case on a bigger stage. For England, early 2026 friendlies and qualifiers will be crucial; if Tuchel is going to test him again, those windows feel like the logical moment.

Whether he makes the World Cup or not, Chilwell sounds at peace with where he is. “If I can say I gave everything but don’t achieve it then it’s not the end of the world,” he said. “I’ll still be enjoying my football – and only be 29.”

👉 Do you think Ben Chilwell can force his way back into England’s World Cup plans from Strasbourg?