Trevoh Chalobah has revealed how Thomas Tuchel’s late England World Cup call forced him to cut short a New York holiday and race back into tournament mode.
The Chelsea defender was not initially named in Tuchel’s squad for the tournament in North America. But he received the call after Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento withdrew with a calf injury sustained in training.
Chalobah was in Times Square when Tuchel’s message arrived and only saw it two hours later back at his hotel.
Chalobah’s Chelsea Resilience Earns Its Biggest Stage
The call-up matters for Chelsea because it underlines how sharply Chalobah has rebuilt his standing.
The 26-year-old made a career-high 47 appearances for Chelsea last season after previously facing uncertainty over his Stamford Bridge future.
ReadChelsea has already followed the club’s wider World Cup picture, including Moisés Caicedo’s Ecuador record in the Curaçao draw. Chalobah now gives supporters another Chelsea storyline to follow with England.
Tuchel’s faith is also central to the story.
He gave Chalobah his Chelsea debut in the 2021 European Super Cup, handed him his England debut against Senegal last June, and now wants him as right-sided centre-back cover at the World Cup.
Chalobah has since trained fully with England in Kansas City and said he believes he can play a big part at the tournament.
For Chelsea supporters, the scramble from holiday mode to World Cup duty is another reminder.
One of the club’s most persistent academy graduates keeps forcing his way back into the conversation.
