Blues boss Jose Mourinho thinks that Wolfsburg star Kevin De Bruyne couldn’t handle being a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge.
How times have changed with the newly crowned Bundesliga Assist-King preparing to join Manchester City for what could be as much as £60 million.
While at Chelsea the 24-year-old made just two appearances for the club before being sold by Jose Mourinho for £18 million, while claiming Mourinho never gave him a chance.
The Portuguese manager has now hit back against those allegations saying: “That is unfair because I wanted to keep him. And he told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team.
“He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He needs to know that he is important.
“He did not want a team where he thinks, ‘Am I playing or not?’ He needs that trust. He needs that security. So I was not happy when he left. So yes it’s not fair.
“He didn’t tell me he couldn’t handle the pressure. He told me he wanted to play every weekend.
“I told him this is Chelsea, you are very young, you have Eden Hazard, you have (Juan) Mata, you have Willian, you have (Andre) Schurrle, and I cannot promise you that.
“And the first game of the season against Hull City he played. For the second game against Manchester United, he played.
“The third game of the season was the Super Cup in Prague; I decided not to play him. For the fourth match, in the Premier League, he was on the bench.
“And he was not happy. He told me he was not happy. He was not training very well and he was saying, ‘I can’t give you more, this is just my way’.
“So yes, I accept that if this is his mentality and it’s his choice to go, it is better for Chelsea to make a good deal.
“Chelsea made a good deal and he was happy to go, and I am happy because the kid is a good kid. And I am happy for him.
“We sold him, made our money and it was fantastic because we bought him cheap and sold him for a fantastic price. And now Wolfsburg, if they make a fantastic deal, that is good for them.”
