I helped end Chelsea's 26-year wait for a major trophy, but I was a week away from joining Arsenal.
Scott Minto's gamble to snub Arsenal paid off after helping end Chelsea's 26-year trophy drought.
The former defender started in Chelseaof the 1997 FA Cup final over Middlesbrough, but things could have been different.
After six years at Charlton, Minto decided to leave in 1994, along with his London rivals. Arsenal and Chelsea, both eager to get him.
And it was at Highbury where Minto He thought he would make his move and manager George Graham would offer him a contract.
But the left-back refused to make a hasty decision – giving Chelsea a week to submit their own offer before accepting the Gunners' offer.
In the end, Minto walked away from his meeting with legendary boss Graham to sign for the Blues that same night.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com about how close he came to joining Arsenal, he said: “I actually thought in the second half of my last season at Charlton that I would sign for Arsenal.
“Theo Foley (former Arsenal assistant) had told me that they had been watching me and wanted to make an offer.
“At that time, the transfer window, the last one, was the third Thursday of March, they said they were not going to buy me now, but at the end of the season.
“They wanted to wait, I was letting my contract run out and they said it would be cheaper that way. So I ended up meeting George at Highbury.
4
4
“It was just me, a 22-year-old guy, a young single man who liked to go out for a couple of nights and didn't find guys all that charming.
“But I came out of that meeting thinking that's the word, (Graham) was a very lovely guy, but the reason I didn't sign for Arsenal was because he told me… and it wasn't about money.
“He told me I can have a three- or four-year contract, but it won't go up. And I said, 'Well, what even happens with inflation?'
“He said, 'No. If you're trash, we won't take any money from you, so if you're good, we won't give you any extra money.'
“So I thought, 'OK. It's still Arsenal', but he said I might have to wait 18 months for Nigel Winterburn – I would have had to wait ten years for Nigel, he carried on for years – he's a brilliant guy!
“And I had seen Colin Pates go from Chelsea to Charlton, he was our captain at Charlton, to Arsenal, but get stuck in the reserves and not really be seen.
“And I had been in the first team since I was 17, and for me the reserves, it doesn't matter where you are, the reserves are reserves, it's not first team football.
“Then he (Graham) said, 'Nigel had to wait 18 months for Kenny (Sansom),' and I might have to wait 18 months for Nigel. And I thought it's about the here and now.
“So I told a pig, 'I don't have an agent,' which was true. I said, 'I'm here alone, my dad is away on business for a week.' which wasn't, 'Do you mind if wait until he comes back and chat with him?'
4
“Now, at that time, or before, Keith Peacock, who was the father of Gavin Peacock (then Chelsea player), Keith was working at Charlton (as under-21 boss), he said: 'I want you to be at Chelsea, I think Chelsea' “They are interested. Give me a few days.”
“I called him on the payphones after leaving that meeting at Highbury and said: 'Keith, they offered me a contract, you have a week, and if Chelsea don't come, I'm going to sign for Arsenal.
“Literally that night I met with Chelsea, they offered me a better contract, but it wasn't about money, it was more about football, and then I signed.
“I actually called (Arsenal) the next day to try to talk to George, and they said, 'He won't want to talk to you.' I said, 'Well, can you at least tell him I tried?' “
Minto remained at Stamford Bridge for three years, with his last outing being the 2-0 win over Boro in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
He later signed on a free transfer for Benfica, where he became the first Englishman to play for the Portuguese team.
But he hopes his former club can be a step closer to another win when they face Man City in the semi-final.
Chelsea vs Man City will be broadcast live on talkSPORT on Saturday, April 20 from 5:15 p.m.
