Chelsea’s unheralded defender Papy Djilobodji is still clueless as to why he was not given more chances in the first team at Stamford Bridge and is looking to make a fresh start with Werder Bremen. The 27-year-old, signed from Nantes for £3million at the start of the season, made just one appearance for the Blues as a substitute in September's Capital One Cup win over Walsall, before being sent out on loan to the Bundesliga side.
Asked about his lack of game time, Djilobodji told German newspaper Bild, “Really I do not know. I gave everything.
"I was never able to showcase my potential, but I am fully convinced that I will do it. The coach [Jose Mourinho] decided that I don't play. But I take that as a challenge."
Though the Senegalese defender signed a four-year contract when he arrived, he never really looked like he would make the first team with John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma all being comfortably ahead of him in the pecking order.
Now at Werder Bremen, Djilobodji is still perplexed about how his situation was at Chelsea saying that he always tried his best and never let his confidence drop even though he was relegated to the sidelines. The central defender will be looking to put these past few difficult months behind him and make a fresh start with some impressive performances for Werder Bremen.
Djilobodji said: "What happened in London in the last six months is in the past. I want to prove my worth in Bremen."
Djilobodji not my choice: Jose Mourino
The signing of the defender on deadline day had raised some eyebrows and the former Chelsea manager was quoted as saying at that time:
“In some moments of the market, under certain circumstances, there are moments when you have to trust or not the people you work with.
“It was not my choice; it was the choice of somebody I trust completely, which is the same.
“In my case I trust them because the person who told me Djilobodji can be a good squad player for us was the same person who told me Zouma can be a fantastic player for us. Djilobodji is one of our four central defenders and hopefully he can be useful for us.”
Chelsea, who finished as the Premier League champions last season, have struggled in their title defense. Jose Mourinho was sacked in December after losing 9 out of 16 league games, Guus Hiddink was subsequently appointed as the interim manager.
The Blues have experienced somewhat of a revival after the elderly Dutchman has taken over and most recently, they recorded an away 1-0 victory over their cross-town rivals Arsenal.
Chelsea are currently 13th in the Premier League with 28 points from 23 fixtures, 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham who occupy the last Champions League spot.
