The 22-year-old was one of Burnley’s standout performers on loan last season, as he helped Vincent Kompany’s side win the Championship and was picked at left-back for the division’s Team of the Season.
After impressing in pre-season last summer, Maatsen was tipped to challenge for a regular role under Pochettino this season but the versatile left-sider started just three games in all competitions before he was sent on loan to Dortmund in the January transfer window.
Maatsen has thrived since his move to the Bundesliga and capped another impressive performance by scoring a goal in Dortmund’s 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening which has secured their place in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea now have a decision to make over Maatsen’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge and the defender is adamant that he could’ve made an impact under Pochettino.
‘No, I was surprised. I think I always believed [I could] play for Chelsea as well, but unfortunately for some reasons it didn’t work out how it should’ve,’ Maatsen told CBS Sports.
‘Now I’m here I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I can say I’m very proud of myself.
‘I kept believing in myself and came here to experience playing my game at the highest level, playing my game. Today I think I showed a very good performance. I’m very happy.’
Dortmund do not have an option to buy Maatsen has part of their loan agreement with Chelsea, meaning that the two clubs will need to negotiate a fee for the Dutchman this summer.
‘Unfortunately for both players, neither option was really realistic,’ Dortmund’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, told Sky Germany in February.
‘If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two and a half years ago, then you know also that it might now be very, very difficult.
‘We naturally advocated for an option with him – and also with Ian – but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it and so we will accept it for now.’
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