Gary Cahill, who has been highly linked with a move to the Anfield revealed he is determined to grab an opportunity of first-team football as he fears lack of action recently might affect his 2016 Euro hopes.
The veteran English defender has now reignited the uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s defense after confirming that he is frustrated at his lack of action at the moment.
This season Gary Cahill has really fallen behind Kurt Zouma and John Terry in the pecking order and now confirmed he had discussions with caretaker boss Guus Hiddink about his present situation.
In an interview he said: “I did have a good chat (with Guus). He was very approachable. I thought it was beneficial. Very positive.
“Obviously I want to be at the club, I signed a four year contract a couple of months ago. That shows I want to be here, I am settled here, have had a lot of success here and my family is settled here but ultimately I feel I need to play football matches.” His frustration growing rapidly.
“It has always been in my make up to play a high percentage of games. I realise that sometimes things go well and sometimes they don’t.
“But it is very important for me I feel personally, even selfishly, to be playing football matches. You will never change me. I think it is a positive thing.
“You get people criticizing people who are happy to sit on the bench picking up money.
“That’s certainly not me, I want to be out there and being a big part of things if I possibly can, realising that everyone else is playing well as well.
“Ever since I have been at Chelsea, there has been a lot of rotation.
“(But) in the last years when you have been up there with 85-90 per cent of games, his season has been slightly different.”
Last week a close source of Cahill revealed that the Three Lions vice-captain is also concerned about the major impact his position at this Chelsea squad could have on his international career, as Euro 2016 just around the corner.
Cahill tried to clarify: “First of all I am contracted at Chelsea. It is all about me playing for Chelsea. The bottom line is that I am very happy here, I extended my contract for those reasons.
“My family and everything is settled here, I have loads of success. I want to keep that going, I don’t want to be stale. I’m 30.
“I’ve got a good few years left in me yet. I want to keep progressing and progressing means playing football matches, try and get consistency and so it doesn’t affect me, your pedigree, your England chances and everything.”
Few days ago, Chelsea rejected Gary Cahill’s request to let him go despite the defender’s increasing frustration as he has been left out to warm the bench in recent times. Liverpool over the past few weeks have become favourite to lure the veteran defender away from Stamford Bridge. The England vice-captain has played only one Premier League match since Jose Mourinho’s sacking last month.
Cahill has made more than 150 appearances for the Blues since his £7million switch from Bolton in January 2012 and was also a key member in last season’s title-winning squad.
England boss Hodgson appointed him vice-captain just after the 2014 World Cup and Cahill skippered the Three Lions in Absence of Wane Rooney against Estonia last October.