Jan Maatsen celebrates scoring for Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final win over Atlético Madrid. Photo: Hendrik Deckers/Getty Images
Three years ago Jan Maatsen told himself that one day he would video call his friends from a Champions League victory party.
Maatsen had just finished a season on loan in League One with Charlton Athletic while he watched his parent club Chelsea win the Champions League on TV.
Now on his fourth loan at Stamford Bridge with Borussia Dortmund , Maatsen is preparing for the Champions League semi-final match against PSG. -Germaine and hopes that he will be the one to call his comrades at the winners' party on June 1.
“I actually watched the 2021 final at home with some of my old teammates,” Maatsen said. “When Chelsea won, we were all happy. I felt like I was a part of it after being around these guys, training and making memories. It was something special: they won it.
“Also, several other young players I played with there went to the final in Porto. From there they called me on FaceTime, it was incredible.
“It was Billy Gilmour and Tino Anjorin. I have a good relationship with them and they showed me how the party went. I was so glad they experienced this while I was building my own journey. They experienced it and said it was an incredible feeling.
“I said to myself: “One day I want to be one of those guys who will perform on the biggest stage, to show the world who I am, to show the quality which I have.» And now I have this opportunity, it’s crazy.”
“Mbappe is very fast — this is a big test for me.”
Maatsen’s determination dates back to the moment Feyenoord released him at the age of 11 and reappeared on the field for the last time. in the summer when the left-back turned down a permanent move to Burnley to fight for a place at Chelsea.
So it's no surprise that Maatsen, who was born in the Dutch town of Vlaardingen, says he is willing to «die» to try to keep up with PSG star Kylian Mbappe in the Dortmund semi-final — the first leg of which will be played in Germany on Wednesday night.
“Mbappe is very fast. If I have to run with him, I will have to give it my all,” Maatsen said. “If I have to die, then I have to die to escape, we will try our best.
“Everyone knows his qualities. He is a top world-class player. Of course we have to stop him. I think it's a great challenge for me to meet the best and I'm looking forward to it.»
Maatsen's path to the semi-finals and a date with Mbappe saw him through to Charlton. , Coventry City and Burnley on loan, and then endured a poor first half of this season on the Chelsea bench.
Maatsen made just three appearances for Chelsea in the first half of the season but has started all 18 of his matches since joining Dortmund on loan in January. Photo: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns
“My father [Edward] always tells me the truth and always tells me the positives and also the consequences if you don’t perform,” Maatsen said. «He would always put me down and say, 'Whatever you do, it's your choice.' But if you choose something, you have to stand for it and give it your all.”
«Don't make a decision and two months later think, 'I don't want to stay here.' Of course, not every decision will be pleasant at first, but you can make it more pleasant for yourself if you believe in it, have a plan, and don't let people bother you. People will always voice their opinions, but everything happens for a reason. Every move I made was deliberate and well-planned, and I can thank my father for that.”
Maatsen played just three games for Chelsea this season before joining Dortmund on loan, where he Started all 18 of his matches and won the Champions League quarter-finals against Atlético Madrid.
Maatsen's successful goal became the goal of the week! ☄️@Heineken || #UCLGOTW pic.twitter.com/hxiog9y1If
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 19, 2024
Having seen the success of players such as Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham in Dortmund, 22-year-old Maatsen shared his views on why he thinks it is such a good environment for young players. to succeed.
“I think the board, the coach, the technical directors are all on the same page,” Maatsen said. “They all believe in me, that I am a talented player capable of performing at the highest level, and they gave me this opportunity.
I think it is a special event for players, young players, to come to such a big club like BVB and show their skills to the whole world. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”
Asked if he ever regretted staying at Chelsea last summer before moving to Dortmund in January, Maatsen added: “Yes, it plays with your mind, but I still believed my chance would come. if I'm patient and work hard.»
«For some reason it didn't work out and after that a solution had to be found and the deal was done between Dortmund and Chelsea. I also have to thank Chelsea for having me here and giving me this opportunity.»
Maatsen said that «all options are open» at the end of this season, but first he has the dream is to try to achieve this by reaching the Champions League final, which will be played at Wembley, and ultimately winning the trophy.
“Of course I am dreaming, but first we have to play against PSG,” Maatsen said. . “We are doing this step by step. Of course, we all dream about it, but we must make it happen. We can dream big, but if we don't achieve it, the dream is worthless.»
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