£130k-a-week star finally reveal frustration under Thomas Tuchel that made him leave Chelsea

Callum Hudson-Odoi says he wanted to leave Chelsea during Tuchel’s regime.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has acknowledged that after not being included in Thomas Tuchel’s matchday squad for the opening-day triumph against Everton, he started to think about leaving Chelsea.

Callum Hudson-Odoi failed to get playing time under the previous manager and finally signed a season-long loan deal with Bayer Leverkusen that does not contain a buyout option.

Since his departure, Graham Potter has taken up Tuchel’s responsibilities at Stamford Bridge. While admitting to feeling unhappy with his restricted position, Callum Hudson-Odoi reiterated to the Daily Mail that he bears no ill will toward his former management.

“It was one of those difficult moments when you look at yourself and say, ‘What am I doing wrong? Have I done anything wrong to not even be in the squad?” he said of his opening day snub.

“I would never say anything bad about Thomas, he was a good guy, a good manager. [But] the first game of the season, it was frustrating. Any footballer that isn’t in the squad would understand how frustrating it is.

“Regular football gives you consistency and the more games you play, the more consistent you become, the more form starts to kick in.

“You feel fresher, you feel better, you feel like…not that you’re getting treated fairly but that you’ve got the trust from the manager to push you and kick you on. You don’t want to be on the bench thinking, ‘Why am I not playing?’ And then it becomes weeks and weeks and the legs are rusty when you do play. The most important thing is consistent football. That’s what I’m getting here and it’s making me feel better.

“Right now, playing games, momentum is kicking on and you feel refreshed: new country, brand-new experience. It’s definitely refreshing to know I get an opportunity to play games week in, week out, enjoying it and smiling!”

The new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was willing to accept a loan departure but made it quite obvious that he was not interested in talking about anything long-term, according to Callum Hudson-Odoi, who also discussed the conversation with him.

“When a club is trying to get a player [on loan], they always want that option to buy at the end of the season,” the winger began. “Todd was saying: ‘Listen, we want you back here.’

“You’re still on the radar of being wanted by the club. The way he’s trying to set it up, there are a lot of young players he’s trying to buy for the next few years. It shows he wants to integrate the players into the team and help them develop.”