Danny Drinkwater ‘angry’ for wasting best years at Chelsea and opens up on FOUR family tragedies during five-year stay

DANNY DRINKWATER says he is still “angry” after wasting his best years at Chelsea. 

The 32-year-old joined the Blues back in 2017 for £35million after starring in Leicester’s Premier League triumph and Champions League campaign.

But over the course of his five-year contract, the midfielder made just 23 appearances, scoring once, and was finally released by the club in the summer.

Drinkwater admits his mental health plummeted after being made to feel unwanted at Chelsea, while family bereavements saw him caught drink driving.

Still a free agent, he said: “I’m relieved, because it’s clear it wasn’t a situation that was good for me or the club.

“I’m angry because of how it’s gone and how I was treated. Not bitter though, or what ifs. It was a long time coming.”

Asked if he had wasted the best five years of his career, he added: “Yeah, it feels like ‘what have you thrown those five years away for?’

“If you’d stayed at Leicester, if you didn’t get injured and if the club treated you differently. They’re all ifs. It’s frustrating, 100 per cent.

“Don’t think I’m still not burning about how it’s gone. I still kick myself for it. But on the other side, am I going to keep kicking myself, because I can’t change it.”

Drinkwater had loan spells at Aston Villa, Burnley, Reading and Turkish side Kasimpasa during his time at Chelsea, but was accused of living an easy life.

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In 2019, he received a 20-month driving ban following a crash near his home while being two-and-a-half times over the legal limit.

But on accusations of an easy life, Drinkwater argued: “That’s not true. ‘Living the life’ lasts about two weeks.

“I was loving it, but in the background, there’s always things that burn away. And as a person, if you’re not open enough to speak to the right people, it chews away at you.

“I was. Nan passed, grandad passed, dad got diagnosed with Leukaemia, I lost my dog and was drink driving, which is just not me. I made a big mistake.

“I was also fighting for my son, which was going on constantly and takes its toll. I definitely think that’s the lowest I’d been. I didn’t think I was depressed, but it could’ve gone that way.”

Asked in the summer where he thought he would be playing next season, he said: “There are a few offers flying about. I’ve still got the ability and hunger to push myself.”

But nothing has materialised and Drinkwater is currently still waiting for a new club.