Michael Mancienne says he made the right decision quitting Chelsea Football Club earlier in his career
Mancienne came through the academy ranks at Stamford Bridge but then left for German side Hamburg in 2011.
He’s now over at Nottingham Forest and is set to play against his former club Chelsea in the Carabao Cup tomorrow.
Despite failing to hit the heights since his Chelsea departure, Mancienne insists he made the right call.
“I was in the comfort zone at Chelsea and it is easy for players to rot away in that environment,” he said.
“When you’re at a big club you can easily get caught in a bubble because everything is done for you. There are so many people doing things for you that when you go out on loan you’re thrown into real life.
“I was 21 when I made my debut and it was great moment. I thought it would be the time when I kicked on but there were too many players in front of me, many of them captains for their countries.
“The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole were the best role models to have, and seeing people like John break into the first team obviously gave you that hope and desire to do the same thing.
“But I don’t think there is one player from the academy in or around my age group that is still there. Ryan Bertrand, Jack Cork and Sam Hutchinson have all left, and Liam Bridcutt is with me now at Forest.
“I had to make a decision because I wanted to make a name for myself and play games.”
See also
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