Danny Drinkwater asked if he regrets joining Chelsea, his answer makes sense
The year is 2017, and Antonio Conte has just guided Chelsea to the Premier League title, a year after Leicester City had stunned the world; Danny Drinkwater is targeted by Roman Abramovich.
At the time, the move made a lot of sense. Chelsea were signing one of the best central midfielders in the league, pairing him with N’Golo Kante – his old Leicester pal. They were getting him for a fee of £35m.
There seemed to be little risk with the deal. This was Drinkwater in his prime years, having just clocked up more than 200 games in five seasons with Leicester. But he is considered one of Chelsea’s biggest flops.
Danny Drinkwater discusses Chelsea move to David Ornstein
Drinkwater remained on the books in West London for five years following his move in 2017, eventually leaving Chelsea as a free agent. In that time, he played just 23 times for Chelsea in all competitions.
Antonio Conte defended him in that first season, blaming his failed first season on injury. Maurizio Sarri didn’t show the same compassion that Conte did, underlining that Drinkwater wouldn’t play for him.
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Speaking on David Ornstein’s new show Truth or Padel with The Athletic, Drinkwater was asked if he regretted joining Chelsea. The midfielder delivered an honest answer, and actually, it makes a lot of sense.
“I don’t regret moving [to Chelsea]. In hindsight, I regret how it’s turned out. I think I could never turn it down,” the three-time England international explained, with the midfielder candid in his response.
Why Drinkwater had beef with Maurizio Sarri and Gianfranco Zola
Drinkwater would go on loan four times in the next four years after his dismal first season at Stamford Bridge, joining Aston Villa, Burnley, Kasimpasa in Turkey and then a trip down the leagues to Reading.
Eventually, Drinkwater retired early and now plays for the star-studded veterans’ side Wythenshawe FC, alongside the likes of Stephen Ireland, Papiss Cisse, Joleon Lescott and plenty of other retired stars.
Looking back, it wasn’t Conte or his first season at Chelsea that ruined his chances of being a success. It was his injuries, and Sarri – if his previous comments about Sarri’s treatment are anything to be believed.
On deadline day, Drinkwater once said: “It was Sarri and Gianfranco Zola translating. They told me I could go on loan; I was like ‘what?’ You’ve given me one hour to get a move’. Giving me an hour was a joke.”
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