Ian Maatsen can ease Chelsea exit by stopping Kylian Mbappe in Champions League

Chelsea’s loss might just turn out to be Borussia Dortmund’s gain as Ian Maatsen, who left Chelsea on loan in January, is proving to be a crucial player for Dortmund in their quest to stop Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final.

Maatsen, a left-back, didn’t get much playtime at Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino, but he’s been a standout performer for Dortmund since his move. He’s 22 years old and from the Netherlands. He’s played in 18 games, scoring in their Champions League quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid and putting in a top-notch performance in the victory over Bayern Munich.

When Maatsen left Chelsea, he signed a new contract with a £35 million release clause. He’s keeping his options open for the future but right now, his main goal is to reach the Champions League Final and lift the trophy at Wembley on June 1.

Watching Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021 from home was a special moment for Maatsen. It made him dream of being on that big stage himself. Facing PSG and Mbappe in the semi-final is a huge challenge, but Maatsen is up for it.

If Dortmund wins the Champions League, they could earn around £100 million, which would help them secure permanent deals for Maatsen and Jadon Sancho. Bayern Munich is also eyeing Maatsen as a potential replacement for Alphonso Davies, who’s headed to Real Madrid.

Maatsen doesn’t seem likely to return to Chelsea, especially after turning down a move to Burnley last summer. He believed he could prove himself at a higher level. However, his height, standing at 5 feet 6 inches, seemed to work against him at Chelsea.

Chelsea wants to cash in on Maatsen, especially since he came up through their academy, meaning they’d make a profit from his sale. They need to raise funds to comply with Premier League rules.

Maatsen might make it to the Holland squad for Euro 2024, which could complicate matters for Chelsea and delay his departure. But right now, his focus is on chasing his dream.

“I watched the 2021 final at home,” Maatsen said. “It was special Chelsea won it. I told myself, ‘One day, I want to be one of those guys on the biggest stage’. And now I have this opportunity.”