Wednesday 3 August 2016 07:07, UK
Chelsea defender Baba Rahman says he was allowed to leave the club on loan this summer as his style of play is too attacking.
Rahman joined Bundesliga club Schalke on a season-long loan on Tuesday after he was deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge by new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
The Blues now have just two senior full-backs in their squad following Rahman's departure but the 22-year-old says he was allowed to leave because Conte wants a more defence-minded left-back.
"Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told me that he wants his team to be very defensive, but I am a rather offensive full back," Rahman told German newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten.
"So I would have had very little playing time. Conte advised me to leave on loan. We will see what happens after this season."
Rahman signed for Chelsea from German club Augsburg in 2015 but failed to impress in his first season in English football as the Blues finished a disappointing campaign 10th in the Premier League.
The Ghana international was unable to secure a regular first-team place and was largely used as back-up for Cesar Azpilicueta.
However, despite his own lack of form and game time last season, Rahman remained unimpressed with the quality of the Premier League.
"A lot of players in England are very powerful, whereas in Germany you see some better football," he said.
"A lot of Premier League teams are still very much playing kick and rush football."
Conte will be keen to recruit a replacement for Rahman before the start of the new season.
The Blues travel to Minneapolis to take on AC Milan in their penultimate pre-season friendly on Wednesday night. Chelsea then face Werder Bremen in Germany on August 7 before they kick off their Premier League campaign at home to London rivals West Ham August 15.
