New Aston Villa signing Steve Sidwell has no regrets over his 12 months at Chelsea.

"I don't regard it as a wasted year, it was something I had to do," Sidwell told the Daily Express. "I could not turn the opportunity down. Everyone I spoke to in football said I had to try it at Chelsea.

"Last year was great for me. I have never regretted it. It was a year money cannot buy, with the experience I got, the laughs I had, and simply being with those players week-in, week-out, training and playing with them.

"I have improved because of that year. How can you not do that when you are working alongside players such as Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele? And I have come on as a person as well. It was brilliant.

"Whether I am actually a better player, that will be shown this year. Obviously I did not play as many games as I would have liked, and that is what I want now."