Chelsea news: It was a no-brainer to leave Blues... I never had full support - Bertrand

RYAN BERTRAND has revealed exactly why he had to leave Chelsea for Southampton two years ago.

Ryan Bertrand has every hope of being in England's starting XI for next year's World CupGETTY

Ryan Bertrand has every hope of being in England's starting XI for next year's World Cup

The 28-year-old was among a cluster of young stars at Chelsea that was unable to make the grade before joining Southampton on a permanent basis in 2015.

Before leaving Stamford Bridge he was part of the Chelsea squad that famously won their first Champions League trophy in that same year.

But, after 10 years at the club he joined as a teenager and several loan spells up and down the English leagues, Bertrand decided it was time to move on. 

He has since established himself as one of the best left-backs in the top flight and is in contention for a starting place at next year’s World Cup in Russia for England.

I didn’t necessarily feel like a footballer at Chelsea

Ryan Bertrand

He made his England debut while still on the books at Chelsea in 2012 but that was the only season he made more than 15 appearances for the Blues in a campaign.

And the 28-year-old admits he was left feeling under-appreciated in west London, forcing him to move further south.

“I wanted to feel like a footballer. I didn’t necessarily feel like a footballer at Chelsea,” Bertrand told the Daily Mail

“It was emotional in terms of Chelsea being the club I had been at since I was young and taken part in one of their most historic moments. There was the emotional attachment but from a football perspective it was a no-brainer. 

Ryan Bertrand left Chelsea in 2015 to join SouthamptonGETTY

Ryan Bertrand left Chelsea in 2015 to join Southampton

“When I was there, whenever I did get the chance to play I never felt the full support to relax and enjoy my football.

“The times I did play it was like an audition. And that is never healthy.

“As a young player coming through you want the club to be stable enough to say, “We trust in you, go out there and play”.

“You don’t want to make a young player feel on edge. I wanted that consistency — and for people to judge you they need to see you consistently.

“Southampton has given me a fantastic base in being able to do that and progress.”

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