Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson has defended his decision to leave title-chasing Chelsea for the relegation-battlers in the summer of 2007.

The right-back became the Blues’ first signing after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club when he completed a £6 million transfer from West Ham United.

Although he went on to make 72 first-team appearances for the Blues, scoring four goals, he felt he had to leave Stamford Bridge for regular first-team football, with then-manager Jose Mourinho seemingly favouring Paulo Ferreira.

“When Jose came in it was different,” Johnson told the British tabloid The Daily Mail.

“I didn’t have an issue with Mourinho but obviously there was [an issue with me] on his side. You could pick up that vibe and it was in and out of the team.

“People might have seen a move from Chelsea to Portsmouth as a backward step but I saw it only as a positive move.

“I knew I could make it if I got the chance to play and I’m pleased with how things have gone down here.”

The 24-year-old has since established himself as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.

“When I got the chance to play for England again, I felt more confident,” he said. “I felt that I should be there. I felt more like I was in the right place.”

The defender also paid tribute to the man who took him to Fratton Park, remarking, “Harry [Redknapp's] a great manager and it was great working with him.

“He’s been in and out of my career, back to when I was 15 at West Ham, and has probably been my main mentor football-wise.”

Ricky Brooks, Goal