Chelsea signed Marc Cucurella this summer, and his transfer was confirmed a day before Chelsea’s clash against Everton.

With Marcos Alonso preparing for a move to Barcelona, Thomas Tuchel decided to turn to Ben Chilwell for a first Premier League start since November last year.

Chilwell has revealed a conversation he had with the Blues manager before the game, and at the time Cucurella’s deal hadn’t been confirmed.

“We had a conversation yesterday [on Friday] where he asked if I felt ready and I said of course,” said Chilwell.

“I don’t know if I am but I feel like I am. I worked hard over the summer so in my head mentally and physically I’m ready to help the team.”

It was a difficult encounter at the Goodison Park, and Chilwell admits that the team expected a tough game.

“We knew coming here it was always going to be a tough match,” he said after the game.

“We’ve got a lot to work on and improve on but the main thing today was the three points and we got them so we’re happy.

“We’re a team in transition and we’re still trying to work together. We’ve got new players that have been integrated in and a new ownership so we’re still working hard and basically we’re just taking every game as it comes.”