Football
ESPN staff 8y

Guus Hiddink never liked me as a Chelsea player so I left - Ramires

Brazilian midfielder Ramires admitted that he left English Premier League side Chelsea for Chinese Super League (CSL) club Jiangsu Suning because of Guus Hiddink.

Ramires spent six years in London, where he played 160 matches and scored 17 goals for Chelsea. He won five trophies -- Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League and Europa League -- and was a key figure under previous coach Jose Mourinho.

Under Hiddink's tenure, the Brazilian midfielder made only one start, in the FA Cup game against Scunthorpe on Jan. 10.

The lack of playing time saw him make a shock £25 million move to join Jiangsu in the CSL in January, along with fellow Brazilian Alex Teixeira.

"One of the big reasons I left Chelsea was the arrival of the new coach," Ramires told The Sun.

"It wasn't just because I had a good relationship with Jose. But when he was in charge, I knew there was a chance of playing and that the fight for a place in the team was always open.

"Yet when Hiddink arrived, he took me out of the side for no reason. I couldn't understand why because I had played well and fought hard for a team that was having difficulties.

"He didn't like me as a player or my way and decided very rashly that he wasn't going to give me an opportunity to fight for a place in his team.

"Even when I played the full 90 minutes against Scunthorpe, the next match in the Premier League I was not involved. I just sat on the bench the entire game and after that I wasn't even a sub.

"I was a long time out of matches there and I wanted to join in and help a team that was not in a great moment. And it was not easy to watch from the bench and see the team not performing well.

"Hiddink's arrival really complicated things for me and I just don't know why... but I guess that's football."

The Brazilian explained that he accepted the move to Jiangsu in order to revive his passion for the game and maintain his spot in the Brazilian national team.

"So I saw that I was really losing myself at Chelsea. In fact I had already lost. In the training sessions, I was fighting hard with all my determination, skill and energy -- but it doesn't count doing that at Cobham.

"You have to actually play matches and perform in those. But it was quite clear after the Scunthorpe game that I was not going to get an opportunity to do that."

Despite his poor relationship with Hiddink, the Brazilian ace has no animosity towards Chelsea nor the Dutchman, and is rooting for the boys in blue to return to the Champions League where they belong.

"I always had a good relationship inside the club and I still have today. I played and performed in some big, important matches for Chelsea and can honestly say that I always worked hard for the team.

"The previous coaches always trusted me to perform in the key games and I loved my time at the club.

"In fact, even today, I am a Chelsea supporter and want the club to get back into the Champions League as quickly as possible because that is where they belong.

"And I've only thankful things to say about Chelsea because they made me who I am today -- the name I have in football and a style that people like me for.

"So I have nothing against Chelsea -- or Hiddink for that matter. It was his opinion and decision that I didn't fit into his style, so I preferred to leave rather than him having an unhappy player that might cause trouble.

"I've never been that kind of person. I've always been peaceful and helpful, so I felt deep down that if I might become a problem it would be best to leave."

The reigning Premier League champions are in 10th place on 44 points, and their next game is against Swansea on Saturday.

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