Antonio Rudiger said the sanctions placed on Chelsea by the UK government were not the reason behind his decision to leave the club.
Germany defender Rudiger has been a crucial player for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea but has not agreed to a new contract.
The former Roma centre-back will therefore leave at the end of the season on a free transfer, with Real Madrid his likely destination.
Rudiger has helped Chelsea to four FA Cup finals, winning one, and a Champions League success since joining in 2017. The UEFA Super Cup, Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup are also included in his honours.
When confirming that Rudiger had asked to leave Chelsea in April, Tuchel suggested that the sanctions placed on the club's owner Roman Abramovic in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine meant the Blues were unable to match the 29-year-old's financial demands.
Rudiger, however, insisted that the sanctions had no impact on his decision.
"I don’t want to go too deep into things," he told reporters at Wembley on Saturday, after Chelsea lost 6-5 on penalties to Liverpool in the FA Cup final, their third consecutive defeat in the competition's showpiece.
"There was a chance but sanctions were not the problem.
"It’s been five years with ups and downs as normal. There were a lot of positive things, but that's why I'm even more frustrated because I wanted to have a different ending.
"It's about both sides. Chelsea have been great to me and I have been great for Chelsea. I am very, very thankful, both me and my family.
"I became a man here. My kids were born here and everything. London, and especially Chelsea, will always be special to me."
Chelsea have become the first side since Newcastle United (1974, 1998 and 1999) to lose on three consecutive FA Cup final appearances, while the Blues are the first team since Middlesbrough in 1996-97 to lose both of England's domestic cup finals in the same campaign, after their penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final in February.
"I think it was a good game just like the EFL Cup final. We had chances, they had chances," reflected Rudiger.
"But at the end of the day we know that penalties are always a lottery and we lost.
"It's about winning, it's not about next season. The game was about today and it was there to take. Unfortunately we didn't win.
"It's always difficult to say whether we are lucky or unlucky. For myself it's the third time [I have lost an FA Cup final] so you can't always say unlucky, unlucky, unlucky."
Rudiger has two games left before he leaves Chelsea, with the Blues hosting Leicester City on Thursday before closing out their season against Watford.
Fatima College stuns San Juan North to claim top spot in SSFL Premiership Division
Fatima College moved to the top of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premiership division standings on Saturday with a remarkable 5-2 win over San Juan North Secondary School at the latter's school ground.
Despite being reduced to 10 men after Captain Jaden Williams was sent off, Fatima scored three goals in the last few minutes of the match to turn a 2-2 draw into a resounding victory.
Jonathan Mason scored twice in the 87th minute and stoppage time, while Michael Chaves added a third in the 97th minute.
Fatima's other goals came from Aidan De Gannes and an own goal by Jaheem Danclar.
San Juan North had taken the lead through national youth player Lindell Sween in the 23rd minute, but Danclar equalized in the 26th minute.
Fatima then took the lead through De Gannes in the 33rd minute, but Nathan Quashie levelled the scores again for San Juan North in the 45th minute.
In other SSFL results on Saturday, Speyside High School defeated Pleasantville Secondary 3-1, Trinity College East came from behind to beat Malick Secondary 2-1, St Mary's College defeated Queen's Royal College 4-3, East Mucurapo beat Chaguanas North Secondary 3-0, Presentation College San Fernando crushed Bishop's High School 4-0, and defending champions St Benedict's College edged St Anthony's College 1-0.
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Nicolas Dominguez earns point for 10-man Nottingham Forest against Brentford
Nicolas Dominguez scored his first goal for 10-man Nottingham Forest as they held on for a 1-1 draw against Brentford at the City Ground.
Things looked bleak for Forest as they went down to 10 men just before the hour when Moussa Niakhate picked up a second yellow card, and immediately conceded to Christian Norgaard from the resulting free-kick.
But they rallied and Argentina international Dominguez levelled soon after with a looping header that Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken appeared to misjudge.
Forest were able to see out the remaining 35 minutes with relative comfort to maintain their unbeaten start to the season on home soil.
The draw means Brentford have now gone five games without a win as their tricky start to the campaign continues.
There was a change to the match officials’ line-up after Darren England was dropped as fourth official following his mistake on Saturday night when, as VAR in Tottenham’s game against Liverpool, he failed to act properly in overturning the decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s goal for offside.
Craig Pawson was drafted in on the touchline and his colleagues in Stockley Park had an early test as Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi converted from close range after Willy Boly’s header from a corner.
He was immediately ruled offside but it was closer than it initially looked, with VAR Michael Oliver this time consulting the horizontal lines to confirm the decision.
The game could have done with that early goal standing as a drab first half followed, with nothing of interest happening until added time when a short free-kick routine saw Norgaard advance into the box but his deflected shot was palmed away by Matt Turner.
The second half immediately brought more entertainment as Brentford were close to taking the lead when Yoane Wissa closed down Turner and the ball trickled towards the net but Boly cleared.
Forest endured a chastening couple of minutes just before the hour that led to the Bees taking the lead.
Niakhate fouled Wissa, raking his studs up the back of his opponent’s leg, with referee Paul Tierney brandishing a second yellow card.
And from the resulting free-kick Norgaard got goalside and nodded Mathias Jensen’s delivery into the corner, with the goal surviving a lengthy review for offside.
Forest’s response was admirable, though, and they levelled eight minutes later as Harry Toffolo’s cross found Dominguez and his header looped over Flekken, with the goalkeeper appearing to pull his hand away as it went over him.
The final half-hour was an attack versus defence exercise as Brentford pushed to make their numerical advantage count, but they came up against a resolute Forest rearguard.
Morgan Gibbs-White produced a fine goal-saving tackle as the Bees broke at speed while debutant defender Murillo cleared off the line from Michael Olakigbe, with Norgaard firing over from the rebound.
Forest put bodies on the line to see out 13 minutes of injury time and earn a valuable point.
That win goes down to the manager – Craig Dawson hails Gary O’Neil
Craig Dawson praised Wolves boss Gary O’Neil after their shock win over Manchester City.
The defender kept Erling Haaland quiet as Wolves earned a battling 2-1 win at Molineux on Saturday.
Hwang Hee-chan struck a second-half winner after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Ruben Dias’ early own goal.
O’Neil had come in for early criticism from supporters, especially after Tuesday’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat at Ipswich, but Dawson insisted the manager deserved all the plaudits from Saturday.
He said: “A lot of credit has to go to the manager for getting us so organised, with the game plan, and getting us fully prepared for the match, which he has done for every single game. That win goes down to the manager.
“It was a massive win and it was great to see this place bouncing.
“It’s clear at times we were man to man and the players stuck to that task brilliantly and stuck to the game plan for the full duration of the game, which is great for the lads.
“It was all about concentration and keeping focused and credit to the manager for preparing us, getting us organised, and today we stuck to the plan and managed to get the victory.”
Defeat ended City’s flawless start to the Premier League season but they remain top, a point ahead of Tottenham and Arsenal – with a trip to the Emirates Stadium to come on Sunday.
“We’re all a bit disappointed now of course. We should have done more I guess,” midfielder Oscar Bobb told the club’s official site.
“We pushed for it and unfortunately didn’t get it. Leipzig (in the Champions League on Wednesday) is next, a big game ahead and then Arsenal. We’re only thinking forward.
“It’s not the greatest feeling, losing. I just want to keep pushing for more.
“It gives us the chance to prove that we’re still the best team, so we’re looking forward to it.”
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