Former Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has opened up his five years spent at Chelsea. Describe how he was treated by Maurizio Sarri and how his Stamford Bridge career went wrong.
Chelsea signed Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City for £35 million on a five-year deal in September 2017. He made 23 appearances for Chelsea in his five years spell at Stamford Bridge and spend most of his Chelsea career on loan to Burnley, Aston Villa, Kasımpaşa, and Reading.
The former England midfielder’s contract with Chelsea ended in June and he is now a free agent. Before Danny Drinkwater’s move to Chelsea, he had played an influential role in Leicester City Premier Title victory in 2016. He formed a strong partnership with N’golo Kante in the heart of Leicester City’s midfield.
What did Danny Drinkwater say?
In an exclusive interview with Skysports, the former Chelsea midfielder said: “I’m relieved because it’s clear it wasn’t a situation that was good for me or the club.
“I can’t blame the club. And to a point, I can’t even blame myself. I’m angry because of how it’s gone and how I was treated – not bitter though, it was a long time coming.”
The 32-year-old also revealed how a meeting with Maurizio Sarri on a transfer deadline day worsen his Chelsea career and his life.
Danny Drinkwater added: “It got to the last hour of the transfer window and [I] got pulled into the office, not expected at all.
“Don’t think you’re going to be in our plans”. This is Sarri, being translated by Gianfranco [Zola]. And I was like “What?”
“Sarri and I got on like a house on fire off the pitch. On the pitch, we were like chalk and cheese. I was like – “Why are you telling me now? An hour before the window closes? I need time”.
“He replied, “No, no, we’ve got clubs abroad you can look at…” but my reaction was – “No, I’ve got my young son. He is my priority”. So, I decided to stay until January.”
The 2016 Premier League winner also disclose the off-field issue and the mental health problem that has affected his career and life in general.
He continued: “If you’d stayed at Leicester, if you didn’t get injured and if the club treated you differently. They’re all ifs. It’s frustrating, 100 percent.
“Don’t think I’m still not burning about how it’s gone. I still kick myself for it. But on the other side, am I going to keep kicking myself, because I can’t change it. It feels like “have you thrown those five years away?”
“[In 2019] Nan passed, grandad passed, dad got diagnosed with Leukemia, I lost my dog and was drink driving, which is just not me. I made a big mistake. I was also fighting for my son, which was going on constantly and takes its toll.
“When football is going well, everything else seems easier to deal with, but when this isn’t going so well, everything seems so heavy. I definitely think that’s the lowest I’d been. I didn’t think I was depressed, but I saw the sports psychologist and if I hadn’t, I definitely think it could’ve gone that way.”
