Bring Him Back – Chelsea fans demand Ian Maatsen return after Champions League heroics
Chelsea fans have urged the club’s hierarchy not to sell Ian Maatsen after his Champions League heroics for Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.
Maatsen scored his first-ever Champions League goal as Dortmund reached the semi-finals with a 4-2 second-leg win over Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
The left-back joined Dortmund on loan in the January transfer window and he will be with the German club until the end of the season – with the Bundesliga side keen to turn it into a permanent deal – according to reports in Germany.
Maatsen was hoping to break into the Chelsea first-team this term under Mauricio Pochettino following an impressive loan at Burnley in 2022-23.
The 22-year-old Dutchman helped Vincent Kompany’s side secure the Championship title and was named in the second-tier Team of the Season.
But Chelsea wanted to sell Maatsen in the summer and even accepted a £31.5m bid from Burnley before he snubbed a permanent switch to Turf Moor.
His lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge saw La Liga giants Barcelona register an interest and it was thought that Chelsea were open to a sale in January.
He ultimately joined German side Dortmund on a six-month loan and following his impressive performance against Atletico, Chelsea fans want him to stay.
‘Ian Maatsen what a goal. Don’t sell him @ChelseaFC,’ @CFCDatro posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Chelsea are going to sell Ian Maatsen to Borussia Dortmund for £35m when we’re crying out for a player like him,’ @UberChelseaFC_ added.
‘Maatsen is into the semi finals as a starting LB in the competition we can’t get into,’ @matissearmani said. ‘Talent always talks.’
‘Ian Maatsen wasn’t given a chance by Chelsea this season and now he is scoring CL quarter final goals,’ @ConnCFC posted. ‘Fair play to him, talented player.’
@Celery_brigade, meanwhile, left a tongue-in-cheek comment and said: ‘That Ian Maatsen fella looks good – we should consider buying him.’
