Andre Schurrle feels his move from Chelsea to Wolfsburg is a step forward after failing to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old German international joined Chelsea from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2013, but he failed to hold down a regular starting place and was made available for transfer by Jose Mourinho in January.
Replaced by Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado, Schurrle was quickly snapped up by German side Wolfsburg and he has discussed his time at Chelsea and the decision to join a smaller club.
“I have been a Chelsea fan ever since I was a kid and I felt well there right until the last day. But the most important thing for me is playing football and enjoying myself. This was no longer the case,” Schurrle told Sport Bild.
“Wolfsburg might be a smaller club when you look at reputations and I thought about it long and hard. I could have stayed at Chelsea. Mourinho told me that I would get my chance.
“You have to make a decision, though, and in the end I only wanted to play football again. Germany coach Joachim Low told me it would be a great move for me and that is why Wolfsburg are a step forward for me.
“Wolfsburg have a great team as well and can play for silverware in the Bundesliga and in Europe.”
Schurrle has one assist in his first two games for his new club.