Ian Maatsen has revealed his plan was to stay at Chelsea this season before joining Borussia Dortmund on loan in January.
Maatsen impressed in pre season playing in a more advanced role and even turned down a move to Burnley last summer despite the Clarets agreeing a fee with Chelsea.
The left back had excelled in the Championship for Burnley last season and was named in the team of the season as Vincent Kompany’s side won the title.
Having been on loan at the likes of Coventry City and Burnley the 22 year old felt he was ready to make an impact at a big club.
In an interview with The Guardian Maatsen revealed his plan had been to stay at Stamford Bridge following multiple loan moves.
The Dutchman said: “My plan was to stay at Chelsea, I’d done my loan spells.”
“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.”
It quickly became clear that Maatsen wasn’t going to feature regularly for Chelsea with Mauricio Pochettino preferring to play Levi Colwill at left back in the absence of Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella.
Maatsen is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and before joining Dortmund on loan he signed a contract extension with a release clause of £35m.
The Dutch u21 international is putting in some good performances for the German outfit and was recently named as the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Month for January.
