Ryan Bertrand: 'I should still be at Chelsea'

Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand is adamant that he is good enough to be playing regularly for Chelsea.

The 25-year-old initially joined the Saints on loan from the West Londoners before making the move permanent for a reported £10m in February.

Bertrand started the Blues' Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 2012 but struggled for first-team chances when Jose Mourinho returned the following year.

Nevertheless, the England defender says that his departure from Stamford Bridge was not related to his quality, and still believes that he is good enough for Mourinho's side.

"I know I should still be at Chelsea and I should still be playing but it is no drama," he told the Daily Mirror. "That's my inner confidence. It's nothing to do with my capabilities that I'm not there, it's purely circumstance.

"Now I play at Southampton I really feel like a footballer. When the team wins and you are playing consistently, you feel good about it. You get a day off and feel like you deserved a day off.

"Every time you played it felt like you were having an audition. Playing regularly, you can be really aggressive in what you do and try new things. I am playing week in week out and developing as a footballer."

Bertrand started 34 of Southampton's 38 Premier League games last season.