BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell scored his first goal for Crystal Palace on Tuesday night in their come-from-behind 4-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The game was the former England defender’s first league start of the campaign and just his 11th appearance for the SE25 side after signing on loan in February until the end of the season.
That loan will finish on Sunday, at Premier League champions Liverpool, with the defender not sure of his next move once he returns to parent club Chelsea, where he has a contract until the summer of 2027.
“We’ll see, I couldn’t tell you at the moment,” the defender told talkSPORT about what the future holds. “Hopefully, a lot more football, more trophies. My body feels great. We’ll see.
“Since I was involved with Leicester, when they won the league, that’s the feeling that you never, never get used to, never get bored of. I’m hungry for more trophies. I’m 28 years old and I’ve still got a lot of good years ahead of me.”
Chilwell saw his free-kick in the 50th minute deflect into the Wolves goal to make it 3-1 and help Palace on to a record Premier League-era points total of 52.
The sight of the whole Palace squad joining Chilwell to celebrate added to the party mood inside Selhurst Park with the sell-out crowd in party mode following the Eagles’ FA Cup win on Saturday,
“It went in. There are no pictures in the scorebook so I’ll take it – a goal is a goal,” Chilwell told Palace TV when asked about his goal deflecting in off a Wolves defender. “There were a lot of different reasons why I celebrated the way I did, there were a lot of different emotions with the goal. It was my first Premier League start in a few years and my first goal since my dad passed away.
“It was also nice to get my first goal here at Selhurst Park as well – [especially] after the FA Cup on Saturday.”
The game was also significant for Palace club captain and longest-serving player, Joel Ward, who appeared at Selhurst Park one last time for the Eagles before leaving the club in the summer.
On Saturday, post FA Cup win, Ward had told the dressing room that he expected the team to use the victory as a platform for further success.
And that drive is something that Chilwell has seen first-hand after he finally got his hands on English football’s oldest prize.
“We all wanted to do it for Wardy today,” said the Milton Keynes-born player about the 4-2 victory.
“What Wardy said after the final – that the previous group of players’ ceiling was now this group’s floor – it’s true. Tonight, for example, we played at 70, 80 per cent of what we can after a good, good few days [of celebrating] and ended up winning 4-2.
“It just shows the group is so together. You go a goal down and you come back and win the game. It was another really special night and just such a good group and they’re going to hopefully go on a do amazing things next year and in the years to come.
“I was however many times at Wembley and to finally get the win and with this group – such a top group of boys, the manager all the staff are all amazing – was amazing, and then the celebrations after with everyone, were special as well. It was a brilliant night.”
Chilwell, whose grandfather Guy Shuttleworth played for South London side Corinthian Casuals, then took time to look back at his time in SE25 as prepares to leave the club he has called home for the past four months.
“I’ve loved it here, it’s such a good club,” said the 2021 UEFA Champions League winner.
“I’d heard from a few of the boys I knew who were here, I spoke to Trev (Chalobah), and he said what a great club it was. Coming here, from day one, all the boys, all the staff, the fans, the fans at Wembley, I’ve just loved it. It’s such a together group.
“I’ve obviously not played the minutes that I probably would have liked to, but it’s such a good group of boys it’s been a pleasure to come in every day.
“You could be disappointed you’ve not played as much, but because it’s just such a good group I’ve just enjoyed coming in and being with everyone every day, it’s made it easier.
“Normally, when you don’t play as much football as you want, you’re probably a bit more disappointed, but I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve really enjoyed coming in every day and just having a great time with the boys, just being around it and trying to help the boys with my experience.”
PICTURES: ROB AVIS
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