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Ben Chilwell lifts lid on Brendan Rodgers discussions over Chelsea move

Ben Chilwell lifts lid on Brendan Rodgers discussions over Chelsea move
© Reuters
Ben Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester in the summer.

Ben Chilwell has revealed that Brendan Rodgers grudgingly admitted Chelsea could help take the England left-back "to the next level".

Chelsea were able to prise Chilwell away from Leicester for £45million this summer, with the 23-year-old admitting leaving the Foxes proved a wrench.

And now Chilwell has said Leicester boss Rodgers told him how Chelsea could advance his career, despite still trying to keep him at the King Power Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers File Photo
Brendan Rodgers, pictured, gave Ben Chilwell the thumbs up about Chelsea (Nick Potts/PA)

"It was definitely a mixture of emotions to leave Leicester after being there so long," said Chilwell.

"It felt like home at the time and I had a lot of friends there, not just players but the staff as well.

"I got on really well with the manager, I got on really well with the owner so it was difficult to leave in terms of that.

"I had a really good conversation with Brendan Rodgers and he said it would be a great thing for my career coming here; that it would take me to the next level.

"He said Chelsea was the perfect club for me to play at – he was desperate for me to stay at Leicester, but he did say that Chelsea was a good club for me to come to and improve myself.

"He only had good things to say about the club having been here himself.

"It was a mixture of emotions but it was the best thing for me and the excitement overtook all of that."

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Chilwell's former team-mate James Maddison posted an Instagram video paying tribute to the left-back on his departure from the Foxes.

And Chilwell admitted that only heaped up the emotions around his Stamford Bridge switch.

"I did feel emotional, yes," said Chilwell.

"It was quite funny because when he posted it; I think I actually got more messages from that video than I did on the actual move itself.

"It went down quite well, didn't it? Although, I had a few people messaging me having jokes that it was like I had passed away or something! It seemed like that sort of video. It was difficult to leave. When I have friends like that, that I am that close with like James, it makes it a bit more difficult.

"But we still keep in contact, we talk most days; just about general things, how he is doing and how I am doing. He knows it is what's best for my career and there's no-one happier than him (for me). We are still good friends and we will continue to be."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester UnitedMan Utd17113334241036
2Liverpool1796237211633
3Manchester CityMan City1695225131232
4Leicester CityLeicester17102531211032
5Everton1710252821732
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1786330161430
7Southampton178542619729
8Aston Villa1582529161326
9Chelsea1775532211126
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham177552421326
11Arsenal177282019123
12Leeds UnitedLeeds177283033-323
13Crystal Palace176472229-722
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves186481926-722
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle175481827-919
16Burnley16448921-1216
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton182882129-814
18Fulham162681424-1012
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1715111139-288
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd181215929-205

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