Glen Johnson: My rift with Jose Mourinho forced me out of Chelsea - Exclusive

Glen Johnson has revealed the breakdown of trust that wrecked his career with Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.

In a sensational blast at the Inter Milan coach the 24-year-old England defender has accused Mourinho of breaking promises when he played under the self-proclaimed 'Special One' at Stamford Bridge.

Johnson rebuilt his career at Portsmouth after being sold to the south coast club by Mourinho for £4million.

And despite making a return to the big four with a £17m switch to Anfield - and becoming England's regular right-back - Johnson has not forgotten or forgiven Mourinho for the way he was treated during his time with Chelsea.

Johnson said: "I got the feeling that I was finished at Chelsea the day Mourinho signed another right-back, Paulo Ferreira.

"Mourinho told me that wasn't the case. I remember the lowest point was when Chelsea were set to play Barcelona in the Champions League.

"We had a couple of Premier League games to play before we played Barca, and Mourinho picked me for one of those games and told me in front of five witnesses that if I played well I would keep the shirt.

"I immediately told my agent that it didn't matter how well I played I would be dropped - because Mourinho wouldn't want me anywhere near the team for the Barcelona game.

"Sure enough, I was voted man of the match - and I was dropped from the squad.

"You would have to ask Jose Mourinho what his reasons were, but I know it was because he didn't want to see me play well again and be forced to pick me for the Barcelona game.

"That was the day I knew I had to leave Chelsea.

"Managers have to stick to their word. You have to be able to trust them.

"It was obvious Mourinho didn't believe in me.

"He didn't think that I was capable of showing the kind of form that I did to break into the England team. That was his choice.

"Obviously, people, even Jose Mourinho, do make mistakes.

the at uk "It gives me a lift when I wonder what Mourinho thinks about what's happened to me since I left Chelsea.

"He probably thought I would go to Portsmouth, fade away, disappear and not do anything in the game - and probably 70 per cent of football fans thought the same.

Now I might get the chance to show Mourinho just what he missed out on if Liverpool get to face Inter Milan in the Champions League. I would love that."

Ironically, Johnson believes his bitter experiences under Mourinho have helped mould him into the player he now is.

Fabio Capello recognises him as the best right-back in the country, and Rafa Benitez was willing to spend the bulk of his summer transfer budget taking the West Ham academy graduate to Merseyside.

Johnson said: "I remember speaking to my mates and telling them that while I was being paid to play football, playing football was the thing I was doing least in my life.

"I was going into training knowing that I wasn't going to be in the team regardless of how well I did.

"Even when I got the odd chance in the first team I knew that even if I scored four goals and got man of the match I would be out for the next game.

"How can a player maintain his desire in circumstances like that - knowing that I would be dropped from the team even if I scored six? "That sort of thing kills you as a professional footballer and I suppose I became a bit of a time bomb.

"A lot of players would have had an outburst and said something they would regret.

"I just bit my lip and got my head down.

"Eventually I learned to deal with the disappointment and I suppose it turned me into the man I am now."

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