'The best solution': Talented youngster explains decision to leave Chelsea in January 2024

On-loan Chelsea defender at Dortmund, Ian Maatsen says the decision to leave the club in January was the best solution to his predicaments. The Dutch left-back made 12 appearances for the Blues in the first half of the season, but only played 17 minutes in his preferred left-back role.

He only made managed just one start and despite turning down the chance to go on loan at Burnley in the summer made up his mind to head to Germany for more minutes. He told The Guardian Sport in an interview: “That was the best solution for me. 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."

Maatsen understands the business of football but also knows that there needs to be a balance of desire and common sense, so in the summer he turned down the chance to return to Burnley where he was an absolute star, helping them on their way to the Premier League.

He would have had more game time but he insists he had done his fair share of loans and wanted to fight for a spot at Chelsea. He added: “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.”

In Germany, Maatsen has also rediscovered his sharpness with two assists, a goal and 789 minutes of Bundesliga football in the legs.