Former Chelsea exile Ben Chilwell says earning England recall would be 'biggest middle finger' to his critics after reviving his career in France

Ben Chilwell has revealed he has his sights on a call-up to travel with England to the 2026 World Cup just one summer on from being a member of Chelsea's notorious 'Bomb Squad'. 

The Champions League winner was exiled by head coach Enzo Maresca after he returned from his six-month loan at Crystal Palace last season, after being informed that he - and a number of his team-mates including Raheem Sterling and Armando Broja - was not part of the manager's plans. 

The 28-year-old had found himself frozen out with the rise of fellow left back Marc Cucurella, having struggled to bounce back from a string of significant ACL and hamstring issues in 2021 and 2022. 

But Chilwell has since reinvented himself in France for Chelsea's sister team Strasbourg on a two-year deal, making seven starts since the beginning of the season. 

The former England international is keen to push himself further however, and as per a new interview, to try and fight for a summer reunion with former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel in North America.  

'What a story it would be if I went to the World Cup after I was in the bomb squad and everyone had counted me out 12 months prior,' Chilwell told BBC Sport. 

'It would just be the biggest middle finger to so many people, which to me is a motivation. 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.'  

Chilwell admitted that his chances were slim, despite the 21 senior caps that he has earned playing for his country since his senior debut, but added that that only fueled his fire. 

'Probably 99 out of 100 people are saying, "no, he's not going, and it is impossible to go to the World Cup",' he continued. 

But Chilwell revealed that he had spoke to his former manager, the current England boss, about his chances, and that Tuchel had only encouraged him to give everything to his performances this season. 

'We've had conversations since he's got the job at England,' Chilwell, who last featured for England in a March 2024 friendly, added. 'I'll try and word it right - it has been said that it's not out of the equation.'

Chilwell also shed light on his decision to move to Chelsea's sister club, rather than a Premier League rival. 

The defender is thought to have been courted by English sides including Everton and Palace, with a view to extending his time at the latter club, but shared that he had been convinced by the project in Ligue 1. 

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

'My relationship with the owners has never been bad. They've always rang or messaged. They go to a lot of Strasbourg games, we're cool and we'll give each other a hug. The only thing you can ask for as a footballer is honesty.'

On that theme, Chilwell also added that he had no bad blood towards Maresca for his own openness about his future in west London. 

"I've never had anything against Enzo Maresca,' Chilwell stressed. 'I told everyone how much I respected the fact that he was honest, because at least then I could just go, "all right, cool, I'm not wanted".' 

Strasbourg currently sit fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, but it will be their travails in the Uefa Conference League that will see Chilwell have a quick reunion with a former side, as his team welcomes Palace on Thursday evening.