Strasbourg star reveals Chelsea 'dream'

Tom Weber

Updated: 30 Sept 2024 18:37 BST
3 min read

Djordje Petrovic has revealed that he still dreams of becoming Chelsea's No.1 despite getting farmed out to Strasbourg in the summer.

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The goalkeeper has experienced a turbulent 12 months. The Serbia international was signed from the New England Revolution in 2023 to be Chelsea's backup behind Robert Sanchez.

However, injuries and not particularly impressive form saw the Spaniard drop out of the team eventually and Petrovic grasped his opportunity with both hands, establishing himself as the undisputed first-choice option under then-coach Mauricio Pochettino for a large chunk of the 2023/24 season.

It seemed as though there was no reason to change goalkeepers ahead of the summer, but the departure of the Argentine and the arrival of Enzo Maresca threw Petrovic's future into doubt.

The 24-year-old is not known for his prowess with the ball at his feet and this quickly became a problem as far as the Italian tactician was concerned. Before long, Sanchez had won back his place, Filip Jorgensen joined from Villarreal and Petrovic was on the outside looking in.

Petrovic reveals Chelsea dream

In the end, the former No.1 was loaned to BlueCo affiliate Strasbourg in Ligue 1 to help the club improve upon last season's unimpressive campaign.

It has been a mixed one so far under new coach Liam Rosenior but Strasbourg did manage to pick up their second victory of the Ligue 1 term on Sunday when they upset high-flying Olympique de Marseille 1-0.

The winner was scored by Diego Moreira, who was sold by Chelsea to Strasbourg in the summer in a controversial deal, while Petrovic kept a clean sheet.

Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, the shot-stopper expressed his hope that good performances in Alsace could see him return to the Chelsea fold in the future.

“I have a big responsibility on my chest to show my quality because I played in the Premier League, at the highest level," Petrovic said. "But I'm just thinking about [and I am] just focused on Strasbourg and the next game."

Quizzed whether it was still his 'dream' to win back his starting place at Stamford Bridge, he answered in the affirmative. "Yeah, that is the goal, to be No.1 at Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world."