--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was strange joining Chelsea, but when…" description: "\"It was strange joining Chelsea, but when I signed, I knew I would be loaned out to a team. They had, like, a five-year plan for me.\" — Thibaut Courtois" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/thibaut-courtois-9556_football_it-was-strange-joining-chelsea-but-when_3158853.jpg" --- # It was strange joining Chelsea, but when I signed, I knew… ![“It was strange joining Chelsea, but when I signed, I knew I would be loaned out to a team. They had, like, a five-year plan for me.” quote by Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/thibaut-courtois-9556_football_it-was-strange-joining-chelsea-but-when_3158853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/thibaut-courtois-9556_football_it-was-strange-joining-chelsea-but-when_3158853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/thibaut-courtois-9556_football_it-was-strange-joining-chelsea-but-when_3158853.jpg) > “It was strange joining Chelsea, but when I signed, I knew I would be loaned out to a team. They had, like, a five-year plan for me.” [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The player describes being loaned out after signing, despite a long‑term plan. **In simple terms:** Loaned out after signing despite five‑year plan. Key Takeaway Clarify contract terms and career expectations. Themes career contracts loan planning Mood uncertain strategic Type professional sports When to use this quote - transfer negotiations - career planning - team integration Key Concepts sports management player development strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure stability in your career? - What safeguards can protect your development? A Different Perspective Loan decisions can disrupt personal development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [You don't have to be too clever to know that if Barcelona loaned me to another team, it's because they have little interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-deulofeu/you-don-t-have-to-be-too-clever-to-know-that-if-barcelona-loaned-me/) [Gerard Deulofeu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-deulofeu/) > [I am very happy to be joining Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radamel-falcao/i-am-very-happy-to-be-joining-chelsea/) [Radamel Falcao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radamel-falcao/) > [When Chelsea signed Ashley Cole I was playing really well at the time, and we were playing against Charlton. We were 1-0 up when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-bridge/when-chelsea-signed-ashley-cole-i-was-playing-really-well-at-the-time/) [Wayne Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-bridge/) > [I want to say thanks to the Chelsea fans because I have seen them very, very happy with me for joining Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-want-to-say-thanks-to-the-chelsea-fans-because-i-have-seen-them/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I'm joining Chelsea hopefully to win more titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/i-m-joining-chelsea-hopefully-to-win-more-titles/) [Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/) > [Of course, it helped that Chelsea also signed Eden, but it is not like they just sign every player's brother. 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So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) ## More by Thibaut Courtois > [I think a goalkeeper has to participate at the back of the defence and come off the line to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/i-think-a-goalkeeper-has-to-participate-at-the-back-of-the-defence/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [The Premier League is different to Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/the-premier-league-is-different-to-spain/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When I left Spain, I had it very clear in my mind that I would return one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-i-left-spain-i-had-it-very-clear-in-my-mind-that-i-would-return/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Everybody wants to play in Europe, and if you're in the rhythm of playing a game every three or four days, sometimes you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/everybody-wants-to-play-in-europe-and-if-you-re-in-the-rhythm-of/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It's a great feeling to be champion of Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-be-champion-of-spain/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [At first sight, Shane Long is just a short striker, but he's good in the air; he's quick, very dangerous, has good feet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/at-first-sight-shane-long-is-just-a-short-striker-but-he-s-good-in/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [If the coach on the sidelines is not that strong, transmitting the kind of spirit he has, players won't always handle it well. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/if-the-coach-on-the-sidelines-is-not-that-strong-transmitting-the/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When you get injured for a long time, it's not nice because you are out of the team and not involved anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-you-get-injured-for-a-long-time-it-s-not-nice-because-you-are/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [When I came to England, everyone told me that I'd get the hits, so I was prepared for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/when-i-came-to-england-everyone-told-me-that-i-d-get-the-hits-so-i/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Madrid and London are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/madrid-and-london-are-great/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [My first days in London were not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/my-first-days-in-london-were-not-easy/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Everyone knows how much and how hard we train. If I hope to continue goalkeeping until I am 36 or 37, then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/everyone-knows-how-much-and-how-hard-we-train-if-i-hope-to-continue/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/it-is-a-childhood-dream-to-be-in-the-world-cup/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [Nobody is guaranteed to be a starter; thinking that would be a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/nobody-is-guaranteed-to-be-a-starter-thinking-that-would-be-a-mistake/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) > [I have the biggest respect for Petr Cech. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, so I think putting him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thibaut-courtois/i-have-the-biggest-respect-for-petr-cech-he-is-one-of-the-best/) [Thibaut Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) [Explore all 72 Thibaut Courtois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thibaut-courtois/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was strange joining Chelsea, but when I signed, I knew I would be loaned out to a team. 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