Chelsea loan system almost made me quit football, says Patrick van Aanholt

Patrick van Aanholt has revealed that Chelsea’s loan system had him on the verge of quitting football altogether.

The Blues bloated youth system has been criticised time and again, with many a top talent falling by the wayside having faced a blocked pathway to the first team.

Van Aanholt is now a key component in Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace side, but amassed just eight appearances for the Chelsea senior side.

The Dutchman was sent on five separate loan spells during six years at the west London club, and revealed the club’s policy left him on the brink of calling an end to his football career.

"I was really thinking about quitting football, I was that upset, I wanted to stop,” he told the Daily Mail.

"I went on holiday with my missus at the time and said, "What am I going to do now? No club is going to want me because I haven't played for a year". I was very close."

A six-month loan spell in 2011 to Wigan, during which he made just four appearances, was the low point.

“One of the worst loans of my life, It was partly the manager, but a little bit me,” he said.

“Obviously when you go on loan from Chelsea you expect to play. At the time my mentality was wrong, I'm not going to lie. I thought, ‘F*** it, I'm not going to train [properly]’. I didn't want to play in the reserves. It was the wrong attitude.

“I could have trained for myself, so when I got the chance I was ready. I didn't do that. I was just training and going home. That was just a waste of time. That's why Wigan is a closed book.”

“I think I made the right move to leave Chelsea behind. They kept sending me on loan to get more experience.

“How long does it take to become more experienced? In your head you're thinking, ‘I need stability to prove myself in the Premier League’.”