Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen is the 5ft 6in starlet who helped book Borussia Dortmund's Champions...

Once more, Borussia Dortmund benefits from the poor performance by Premier League teams, as attested to by the shining performances of Ian Maatsen and Jadon Sancho in Tuesday's quarter-final Champions League win against Atletico Madrid.

During the match against Atletico, Maatsen scored an important second goal for Dortmund, which allowed them to take the lead. His impressive performance has caused Chelsea fans to wonder about their team's decision to let him go, as he also made a clear statement directed towards his parent club.

The young Dutch defender, who is only 22 years old, seems to be a genius that Dortmund is successfully utilizing while others have failed to do so.

Maatsen is currently loaned out to a top-tier club in the German Bundesliga until the conclusion of the season. He also agreed to a fresh contract with Stamford Bridge before heading to Germany, which secures his presence at the club until 2026. However, after observing his remarkable displays on the field lately, one may wonder why he was ever permitted to leave in the first instance.

Maatsen played for Chelsea 15 times this season but only had less than 400 minutes of play time. He went to Dortmund with a goal to show what he is capable of since he didn't get many chances to play under Mauricio Pochettino. He has definitely accomplished that.

Ian Maatsen had a strong performance in Borussia Dortmund's victory against Atletico Madrid during the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Chelsea player who is 22 years old and a star on the team (located on the right side of the field) left the club temporarily in January because they were not given many chances to play in the first team.

When his goal went over Jan Oblak's head, securing Borussia Dortmund's spot in the Champions League final-four, it's probable that those in London felt some twinges of discomfort.

Maatsen played for Burnley during the previous season and performed exceptionally well which resulted in his team winning the Championship with ease. However, upon returning to his original club, he faced difficulties in getting enough opportunities to showcase his talent.

The young left-back was supposed to have more chances to play for Chelsea, particularly due to the previous injuries of both Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella.

The boss of the Blues, Pochettino, said in December that Maatsen would have a greater role in his team. However, he ended up being transferred to the Signal Iduna Park just a few weeks later.

Pochettino spoke during his press conference prior to the Sheffield United match and stated that the injury situation would result in him being more involved.

In the previous match, he played a part, however, inexperienced players can often make a good impression during the pre-season period, yet they require ample time to unwind later on. At times, they encounter difficulties.

Dortmund showed doubt in the Argentine player's abilities, as Maatsen was promptly included in the team's starting line-ups and has since played in 17 matches across various competitions without any indication of difficulty.

Dortmund achieved success in their game against Atletico and advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League, thanks to a crucial goal scored by Maatsen.

Maatsen's voyage to Chelsea As a young Dutch footballer, Ian Maatsen had dreams of playing for a top-level team. He worked hard in his training sessions and games, hoping to catch the attention of a club that could offer him the chance to play at the highest level of competition. That opportunity finally came when Chelsea, one of the most well-known football clubs in the world, took notice of Ian's dedication and talent. They saw him as a player with the potential to make a major impact on the field, and they offered him a spot on their team. With excitement and determination, Ian joined the Chelsea squad, eager to prove himself and take his skills to the next level. He worked with the team's coaches and fellow players to develop his abilities and refine his technique, always striving to be the best he could be. Over time, Ian's hard work paid off. He grew into a strong, confident footballer and was soon playing regular matches for Chelsea. He gained a reputation as a dynamic and skilled player, and soon became a fan favorite. Today, Ian Maatsen is one of Chelsea's most important players, and his journey to the top of the football world serves as an inspiration to young players all over the world. His journey proves that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible, and that even the biggest dreams can come true.

The journey of the young person to reach this moment has been quite extensive. They are presently on their fourth loan move in the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region of Germany as a member of the Blues team.

The Chelsea scouts noticed Maatsen's outstanding performance while he was playing for PSV Eindhoven. He showed his exceptional skills in the Holland's Under-21 national team, which made him an easy choice for Chelsea. This happened six years ago, when he decided to move to England.

Throughout his first season at Chelsea's Cobham academy, the 5ft 6in defender displayed great adaptability by performing in various positions including left-back, wing-back, centre-back, and central midfield. Eventually, he decided to become a full-back and focused his training in that area.

Chelsea sent Maatsen on loan four times after he joined the club as a young player.

Maatsen shone in his past temporary transfer to Coventry. During this time, he was awarded the title of the club's young player of the season.

Maatsen made his debut in the first-team under the former manager Frank Lampard in 2019. Lampard gave the opportunity to Maatsen based on his and other players' outstanding performance during the UEFA Youth League final in 2019.

Nonetheless, it was quite challenging to secure senior positions. Hence, he opted for his first loan deal to Charlton. Without delay, Maatsen won the hearts of fans. He participated in 35 matches across all competitions and managed to score his first-ever professional goal against Doncaster.

Chelsea thought that the EFL season would help improve their versatile player and, as a result, they reached an agreement with Coventry, where he played 41 matches and was eventually named the young player of the year for the Championship side.

He continued to amaze people by going on another loan stint with Burnley in the Championship, which is England's second tier of professional football.

Due to Maatsen's outstanding performances at Burnley, he was nominated and selected to be a part of the Championship team for that particular season.

After that, he stayed in the lower level of soccer with Burnley and was able to make four goals. This helped Clarets win the championship title. Because of his amazing performance, Maatsen was recognized and awarded as part of the division's outstanding team of the season.

Now, let's fast forward to the present day. Despite the ongoing struggles of Stamford Bridge, Maatsen was considered unnecessary and eventually shipped off to Germany. However, he's proving himself yet again during his current loan move.

When the season ends, he will be back at Chelsea and might possess a Champions League triumph medal. This achievement could finally enable him to display his abilities to the Blues. But, is he willing to remain at a club that hasn't provided him with an equitable opportunity?

Is Maatsen going to remain at Chelsea?

The fact that Chelsea renewed Maatsen's contract before he headed to Dortmund shows that they highly value the 22-year-old. However, it doesn't guarantee that he will remain with the team.

By extending his contract, if any other teams want to sign Maatsen permanently, they will have to agree to whatever conditions Chelsea sets, which may end up being expensive.

Maatsen is currently enjoying his time playing for Dortmund after facing difficulties in getting opportunities at Chelsea.

Although he once made his fans happy by comically announcing that he would remain at Stamford Bridge last year despite rumors of him reuniting with Burnley, Maatsen now seems to be thinking about exploring other possibilities outside the team.

Maatsen has been put in a difficult position due to a lack of playing time on the main Chelsea team during a rough season. This has led him to contemplate his options. However, after scoring in Dortmund's recent victory against Atletico, it seems that Maatsen may have decided that it is time to move on from London and seek opportunities elsewhere. His patience has run out.

He told NBC that he had always had the belief that he could play for Chelsea, but regrettably, it didn't happen.

Maatsen agreed to a longer commitment with Chelsea, extending his contract up to 2026. However, before departing on another loan, Maatsen finalized the new contract.

The young player has been eager to prove his worth at Chelsea, but there's a possibility that he might depart on a permanent basis during the summer.

As of now, I am incredibly thankful for this chance. I am proud of my accomplishments thus far, as I persisted in my beliefs and made it to this level to showcase my skills. I believe that I performed outstandingly today.

It's up for debate if Chelsea will permit him to depart, however their requirement to comply with Financial Fair Play rules and sell players during the summer transfer window could lead to him leaving the team.

Dortmund has a talent for transforming players who possess promise into renowned sensations. This has been accomplished with the outstanding performance of Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, and Jude Bellingham.

Maatsen has already proved himself as a potential rising star for the German club, and if he continues to progress, it could be a missed opportunity for Chelsea to have let him go.