NERO ™ Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 The Dortmund left-back on leaving Chelsea, feeling free in Germany and his determination to succeed at the top level an Maatsen feels free. A bit-part player at Chelsea during the first half of the season, the left-back has found a new lease of life since joining Borussia Dortmund on loan in January. “The coach, the board, gave me a lot of confidence because they really wanted me,” Maatsen says. “They put trust in me and I put trust in them. I think that’s why it went so well. “I had trust at Chelsea but with the pressure they are under it is sometimes difficult for a manager to let everyone play – especially young talents with potential. He has to make decisions for the team. You have to deal with it as a young player. Sometimes it’s not fair but maybe it’s the best decision for the club and other teammates. I appreciate that. But I want to play football.” There was no chance of Maatsen, whose contract contains a £35m release clause, accepting a year on the sidelines. The 22-year-old was determined to establish himself at Chelsea last summer. He felt ready after returning from an outstanding loan spell at Burnley, whose romp to the Championship title owed much to the Dutchman’s electrifying performances on the left. “My plan was to stay at Chelsea,” Maatsen says. He enjoyed pre-season and impressed his new manager, Mauricio Pochettino. He even stood firm when Chelsea accepted Burnley’s bid on the final day of the summer transfer window. “I’d done my loan spells,” he says. “I thought I was ready to compete for the big clubs. But sometimes football works like this. I didn’t get a lot of opportunities. It’s not the end of the world but you have to be ready. You always have to believe because football can go quickly.” There is no bitterness towards Chelsea on Maatsen’s part. He is likely to leave on a permanent basis this summer but he does not have anything negative to say about his parent club. Staying put was not an option, though, in the winter. Maatsen did not hesitate when the offer from Dortmund arrived. “That was the best solution for me,” he says. “It was a big club where young players can develop. They have had players like Bellingham, Hakimi, Dembélé. I am happy to be here. At Chelsea I trained at a high intensity. I kept believing that when my chance came I would take it. You want to play every game. It was just being patient. Don’t let your standards drop because if you do then you put yourself in a position where the coach says: ‘Maybe that is the reason why he doesn’t play.’” Source :https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/13/ian-maatsen-interview-borussia-dortmund-chelsea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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