Emmanuel Petit reveals that he was ‘disgusted’ with Chelsea and Roman Abramovich over way his Stamford Bridge career came to an end
French midfielder spent two years as a first-team regular before being relegated to the bench after series of injuries
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EMMANUEL PETIT has revealed how he felt 'disgusted' by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after being forced out of Stamford Bridge.
The French midfielder, 45, joined the Blues from Barcelona in 2001 and spent two years in the first-team, reaching the FA Cup final and securing Champions League football before the Russian tycoon's mega-money takeover.
A series of knee injuries saw Petit drop out of Claudio Ranieri's starting eleven and onto the bench, before he was released in summer 2004.
But the former Arsenal playmaker has revealed how his life was made a living hell after the Russian took over the club.
He said: "I really didn't like the way it ended in the dressing room, with the medical staff and the president [Abramovich] at Chelsea.
"I was even disgusted. That's why I left and didn't give them any news about me after that.
"My performances had been suffering because my knee was a mess, but I put things off. I hid the truth from the medical staff. I still had the hunger."
After his retirement, Petit reveals that he struggled to adjust to life outside of football and 'normal' life.
He continued: "I found life extremely bland.
"I didn't find the same team spirit in real life. When you're in a dressing room, you're focused on your objectives.
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"When you leave it, when you're confronted with 'normal' life, so to speak, I didn't always find the same feeling of solidarity among people. I found life very bland, I found people very boring for a few years.
"It's a 'little death' to end your career like that, and that is why I was fortunate to have my family around me. I wouldn't say I was depressed, but I had that feeling of blandness every day. You get up, but you don't know why you get up."