Marc Guehi insits he harbours no regrets about leaving in the summer, despite seeing a number of his fellow academy graduates establishing themselves in ’s first team plans.
The 21-year-old swapped Stamford Bridge for Selhurst Park in the close season in search of regular first team football and has become one of Patrick Vieira’s defensive linchpins following an £18million transfer.
Such has been Guehi’s form that he broke into Gareth Southgate’s England squad last month, made his senior debut against Switzerland at Wembley and is now likely to be part of the Three Lions plans.
Given the likes of Andreas Christensen and Toni Rudiger are likely to depart in the summer, a route into Chelsea’s first team would have presented itself to Guehi had he been willing to remain patient.
The defender, however, is adamant he made the right choice and knew he wouldn’t be willing to hang about from the moment he was given his first taste of Premier League action as an unused substitute three years ago.
‘My first Premier League game [was the moment],’ .
‘For any young player, playing in the Premier League is a dream. Now is a clear indication that playing in the Premier League was the one.
‘I’m grateful to the people around me who helped me get to this point. Game time for any young player is the key.
‘Coming off the back of playing in the Championship on a regular basis for any young player that is really important, getting game time. That was all that mattered to me.
‘The decision to leave Chelsea and come to Palace was the right one, to get that game time and show what I can do.
‘Coming here didn’t mean it was a given I was going to play, I still had to prove myself, work hard, train hard, but it was definitely the club I thought would give me the platform.
‘For my development it was important go somewhere permanent, play regular, and feel at home somewhere.
‘[Manager Patrick Vieira is] one of the best players to play in his position, won the World Cup, so when someone like that comes knocking at your door, you can’t say no. I am grateful for all the help he has given me.’
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