Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 8y

Papy Djilobodji: Jose Mourinho didn't give me a chance at Chelsea

Sunderland defender Papy Djilobodji insists that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho never gave him a chance to prove himself during a brief and ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea sold Djilobodji to Sunderland for £8 million this summer, only a year after making a surprise move to sign the Senegal international from Nantes in a £2.7m deal after failing to convince Everton to sell John Stones.

Djilobodji made just one appearance under Mourinho -- as a 93rd-minute substitute in the Blues' 4-1 League Cup victory over Walsall -- before being sent on loan to Werder Bremen in January.

"I always said I wanted to play for a great club, make a nice career, and Chelsea is a great club," Djilobodji told So Foot. "There, I was doing all I could -- I worked in training, I showed that I was an option. But I never got my chance, the coach never let me play.

"Yes, I want a little revenge, because at Chelsea, I never got my chance. I worked in training, and all went well. After that it depends on whether the coach likes you or dislikes you.

"I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League but for me, now, the Chelsea page is turned, and I'm concentrating on Sunderland."

Soon after Djilobodji's arrival at Chelsea, Mourinho admitted that he had never watched the defender and had instead agreed to sign him in the final days of the summer transfer window on the recommendation of the club's recruitment staff.

Asked if he enjoyed his 59 seconds on the pitch as a Chelsea player against Walsall, Djilobodji joked: "Yes, I had a great time! I touched the ball twice, so it's not bad!"

Sunderland face Mourinho's Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, and Djilobodji says he wants to prove a point to his former manager.

"I'll go say hello, this is normal," Djilobodji added. "But for the match against Manchester United, I especially want to play a very, very good game."

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