Tag Archives: florent

Florent Malouda says Chelsea are "trying to break me mentally"

Posted on by

Chelsea are 'trying to break me mentally', claims Malouda after being frozen out at Stamford Bridge

By
Laurie Whitwell

PUBLISHED:

22:32 GMT, 11 February 2013

|

UPDATED:

08:16 GMT, 12 February 2013

Not happy: Florent Malouda has hit out at Chelsea

Not happy: Florent Malouda has hit out at Chelsea

Florent Malouda has launched an astonishing attack on Chelsea, claiming the club are trying to ‘break him mentally’ by forcing him to train with academy players.

The France midfielder has hit out after being excluded from the 25-man Premier League squad all season and forbidden from even changing with the first team at their Cobham training ground.

Malouda, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been banished since a move to North America collapsed last summer.

‘The details I’ll explain when I’m free,’ Malouda, 32, told newspaper France-Guyane.

‘But
the strategy they use is to make me look like a player seeking
substantial compensation. If you are excluded for one year, it is very,
very long.

'You must be armed mentally. All this is done to break me
mentally, but in reality it motivates me enormously.’

Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez believes his squad – the majority of whom won the Champions League last May – will realise how important the Europa League is when they arrive in Prague on Wednesday.

Chelsea play Sparta Prague in the last 32 tie first leg on Thursday evening, with Benitez admitting it will take an adjustment for players used to plying their trade in Europe's premier club competition.

'We will need some time (to talk),' said Benitez, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo in November after the holders were knocked out of the Champions League.

Happier times: Malouda (second from right) trains with his Chelsea team-mates

Happier times: Malouda (second from right) trains with his Chelsea team-mates

Happier times: Malouda (second from right) trains with his Chelsea team-mates

'In terms of flights and games it's like the Champions League, in terms of mentality, the first thought is “hmm, it's different”. But if you see the teams that are in the Europa League, you will see it could be quite difficult.

'The day before we will fly, we will be there, they will realise it's Europe and they can concentrate 100 per cent. I'm expecting that they will be focused. We will have to start thinking of it as a great competition, with good teams and we will try to do our best.'

The Europa League is one of two trophies Chelsea can realistically still win this term; they began the season in contention for seven. They sit third, 16 points behind leaders Manchester United with 12 games to play in the Barclays Premier League, but remain in the FA Cup.

The next four matches are key for Chelsea's season and could lift the mood at Stamford Bridge, by changing perceptions of Benitez's reign, which has been unpopular from the start.

On a roll: Chelsea head to Sparta Prague this week for their Europa League clash

On a roll: Chelsea head to Sparta Prague this week for their Europa League clash

Should Chelsea advance to the Europa League last 16, at the expense of Sparta Prague, beat Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round replay and win at Manchester City, cutting the deficit to the second-placed Premier League champions to one point, Benitez will be able to demonstrate progress.

Benitez is unfazed at the prospect of regular Thursday and Sunday fixtures which Europa League progress dictates, although it does limit the amount of time he has to work with his squad.

'Two games a week we can manage, if we have enough bodies,' added the Spaniard, who won the UEFA Cup with Valencia and Champions League with Liverpool. 'Normally when you want to improve your team tactically, you push them. But in this situation you can't because if you push them too much they will be tired. The balance is quite difficult.

'The day after a game you have a light training session. The second day is before the game, so you have a light training session. Then you have to play. That means when you try to do your tactical adjustments, your preparation, you cannot do too much.'

Florent Malouda has never met Rafael Benitez at Chelsea

Posted on by

Benitez has been at Chelsea for 56 days… and I've NEVER met him! Malouda reveals shock snub as he winds down 100,000-a-week contract

By
David Kent

PUBLISHED:

16:15 GMT, 16 January 2013

|

UPDATED:

17:29 GMT, 16 January 2013

Fifty-six days into Rafael Benitez's reign at Chelsea and Florent Malouda has STILL not met the Spaniard.

The French winger was a key part of the Champions League-winning side last season despite being dropped for the final but he was told he was free to leave the club last summer.

A move failed to materialise though and Malouda has made it quite clear he is happy to see out his 100,000-a-week contract at the club, which runs until June.

Florent Malouda has not played this season and seems unlikely to return to the side

Surplus: Florent Malouda has not played this season and seems unlikely to return

Malouda was initially frozen out by Roberto Di Matteo and Chelsea interim manager Benitez has been happy to continue that policy since he took over in November.

Malouda has played 149 times for the club since arriving in 2007, scoring 35 goals.

But his involvement in the first team is so minimal that The Times report that when he was quizzed recently on the arrival of Benitez, he replied that he had not even met the Spaniard.

Malouda rejected several offers from Premier League clubs last summer and at one stage looked set for a move to Brazilian side Santos, though they were unable to cover the 32-year-old's wages despite Chelsea being prepared to let him go at a reduced price to free up funds.

Malouda was a key partof Chelsea FA Cup winning team last season

Celebrating: Malouda was a key partof Chelsea FA Cup winning team last season

Santos' interest eventually cooled and Malouda was banished to the Chelsea's Under 21 side and not included in their 25-man Premier League squad.

Chelsea have received no interest in him during the transfer window, though it is thought they will accept a cut-price deal or even a free transfer for the former Lyon winger.

'A 12-month pre-season, the best of my life,' Malouda joked recently when asked about his situation.

Malouda has been training and playing with youngsters and it is understood that his behaviour has been impeccable.

Benitez has been slow to use Frank Lampard, let alone going to Malouda

New era: Benitez has been slow to use Frank Lampard, let alone going to Malouda

Santos not keen to sign Chelsea"s Florent Malouda

Posted on by

Malouda suffers transfer blow after Santos say they don't want to sign winger

|

UPDATED:

06:54 GMT, 29 October 2012

Forgotten winger Florent Malouda’s hopes of ending his Chelsea nightmare have been dealt a blow after Santos distanced themselves from a move for the Frenchman.

The France international failed to engineer a transfer away from Stamford Bridge before the end of the August window after Roberto Di Matteo deemed him surplus to requirements.

Stuck: Florent Malouda's hopes of joining Santos have ended

Stuck: Florent Malouda's hopes of joining Santos have ended

Malouda has been forced to train with the reserves by Di Matteo and was keen to join the Brazilian side in January after they showed interest last season.

But Santos vice-president Odilio Rodrigues insisted: ‘There is no interest for Malouda, he is not in our plans and if the English press is giving details about it, it must be because some agent is telling that to them to increase his value.

'But there is nothing from Santos.'

Florent Malouda snub backed by Chelsea players, says Roberto Di Matteo

Posted on by

Even the players back my Malouda snub, says Chelsea boss Di Matteo

|

UPDATED:

16:50 GMT, 14 September 2012

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo today dismissed any prospect of a dressing-room revolt over Florent Malouda's banishment from his first-team squad.

Di Matteo played down comparisons between Malouda's segregation and those of Nicolas Anelka and Alex last season, which arguably contributed towards Andre Villas-Boas' downfall as manager.

Chelsea's squad were said to be angered by what was seen as an attempt by Villas-Boas to assert his authority, with his successor subsequently praised for the way he brought other outcasts back into the fold.

Forgotten man: Florent Malouda has been banished from Chelsea's first team

Forgotten man: Florent Malouda has been banished from Chelsea's first team

But Di Matteo got tough last week when he and the club decided to banish Malouda to the Blues' under-21 team following the France winger's refusal to accept several offers to move on despite having apparently expressed a desire to leave.

Malouda, whose contract expires next summer, vented his frustration by revealing the news on Twitter but did not succeed in mobilising his team-mates, according to Di Matteo.

'They have accepted the decision that has been made by us, and they're just going to focus on their targets for this season,' he said.

'Over the past, there's been some expression of the player to part company, but it hasn't happened.

'So we've moved forward, brought in other players and they're the ones we're going to work with this season.

'It was a combined decision between me and the club.

No unrest: Di Matteo says his players support him

No unrest: Di Matteo says his players support him

'It's obviously not an extremely positive message or decision for him, but I guess, at the end, we have to look after our own interests and that's the decision we've taken.'

Despite his banishment and omission from Chelsea's squad for the group stages of the Champions League, Malouda was included in the club's submission for the first half of the Barclays Premier League season.

Asked if he had played his last game for the European champions, Di Matteo added: 'I don't know, only the future will tell. But he's with the under-21s.

'The transfer window doesn't open again until January.'

Chelsea order Florent Malouda and Paulo Ferreira to play in friendly behind closed doors

Posted on by

Malouda and Ferreira furious after being ordered to play in Chelsea friendly

|

UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 7 September 2012

Florent Malouda and Paulo Ferreira's relationship with Chelsea is at breaking point after the pair were ordered to play for the reserves in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Charlton on Friday.

Malouda, who has been told he will train with the Under 21 development squad for the remaining year of his contract, has been warned he could lose his squad number this week.

Chelsea chief Roberto Di Matteo will make a final decision this week, but his first team career appears to be over.

Banished: Florent Malouda's spell at Chelsea is coming to an inglorious end

Banished: Florent Malouda's spell at Chelsea is coming to an inglorious end

Rare sighting: Paulo Ferreira (right) is now hardly ever seen in a Chelsea shirt

Rare sighting: Paulo Ferreira (right) is now hardly ever seen in a Chelsea shirt

Malouda retained his number 15 shirt at the start of the season, but expects it to be taken off him after his dramatic fall from grace.

Ferreira has always been loyal to Chelsea and has been a popular member of the first team since signing from Porto in 2004.

Although he is no longer a regular in the starting line-up, he is understood to be furious that he was forced to play against Charlton.

The Chelsea outcasts reported to the club's training ground for the match against the Addicks' second string at Cobham.

Di Matteo's axing of the pair has echoes of Andre Villas-Boas' decision to banish Nicolas Anelka and defender Alex last season.

The pair were ordered to train and park on the academy site and were even told they could not attend the traditional silver service Christmas lunch at the training ground.

Most of Chelsea's players on international duty this week, but reserve team coach Dermot Drummy was ordered to play Malouda and Ferreira.

Malouda is no longer in the France set up and Ferreira cannot win his place back in defence for Portugal.

Florent Malouda tweets picture of Under 21s entrance

Posted on by

New home for Chelsea's Malouda… but it's next door with the youth team!

|

UPDATED:

11:56 GMT, 5 September 2012

Florent Malouda has confirmed his Chelsea career has come to unsavoury end with the Frenchman forced to train with the youth team.

The forward was was omitted from the 22-strong Champions League squad list submitted by holders Chelsea to UEFA on Tuesday ahead of their Group fixtures with Juventus, Nordsjaelland and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Look what I won! Florent Malouda (right) celebrates Chelsea's Champions League success with Didier Drogba

Look what I won! Florent Malouda (right) celebrates Chelsea's Champions League success with Didier Drogba

New home: Malouda posted this to his Twitter account @realflorentm with the caption, 'This is where I'll train for my last season with the blues !!!'

New home: Malouda posted this to his Twitter account @realflorentm with the caption, 'This is where I'll train for my last season with the blues !!!'

Malouda was told that he could leave
Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the transfer window closed
without any deal being completed.

And on Wednesday, Malouda took to Twitter to take a swipe at his employers.

With a picture of the entrance to the club's youth team facility next to where the seniors train in Cobham, the 32-year-old wrote: 'This is where I'll train for my last season with the blues !!!'

Malouda is understood to have dug his heels in over his wages – he is in the last year of a 70,000-a-week contract with Chelsea and wanted a similar pay packet elsewhere.

The Premier League winner played no part in Chelsea's first three matches this season, the European Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid or the FA Community Shield loss to Manchester City.

And with his omission from the Champions League squad, he has clearly been completely frozen out of manager Roberto Di Matteo's plans.

Waving Goodbye: Malouda is likely to depart Chelsea after five years at the club

Waving Goodbye: Malouda is likely to depart Chelsea after five years at the club

A number of clubs in Brazil were interested in signing him, but were put off by his wage demands.

Malouda played 49 matches for club and country last season, but has fallen right out of favour following the summer arrivals of Eden Hazard and Oscar.

Florent Malouda left out of Chelsea"s Champions League squad

Posted on by

Clock ticking on Malouda's Chelsea career after winger is left out of squad for Champions League defence

|

UPDATED:

15:45 GMT, 4 September 2012

Florent Malouda's Chelsea career looks to be drawing to a close after the midfielder was omitted from the club's Champions League squad.

The Frenchman's name was not on the 22-strong 'A' list submitted by holders Chelsea to UEFA on Tuesday ahead of their Group fixtures with Juventus, Nordsjaelland and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Malouda, 32, was told that he could leave Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the transfer window closed without any deal being completed.

Look what I won! Florent Malouda (right) celebrates Chelsea's Champions League success with Didier Drogba

Look what I won! Florent Malouda (right) celebrates Chelsea's Champions League success with Didier Drogba

The player is understood to have dug his heels in over his wages – he is in the last year of a 70,000-a-week contract with Chelsea and wanted a similar pay packet elsewhere.

Malouda played no part in Chelsea's first three Premier League matches this season, the European Super Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid or the FA Community Shield loss to Manchester City.

And with his omission from the Champions League squad, he seems to have been completely frozen out of manager Roberto Di Matteo's plans.

A number of clubs in Brazil were rumoured to be interested in signing him, but were put off by his wage demands.

Waving Goodbye: Malouda is likely to depart Chelsea after five years at the club

Waving Goodbye: Malouda is likely to depart Chelsea after five years at the club

Malouda played 49 matches for club and country last season, but has fallen right out of favour following the summer arrivals of Eden Hazard and Oscar.

Chelsea Champions League squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Moses, Hazard, Ferreira, Marin, Turnbull, Sturridge, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Piazon

Victor Moses unveiled at Chelsea

Posted on by

Chelsea seek to crank up title pressure after Moses deal takes summer spending past 80m

|

UPDATED:

17:03 GMT, 25 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Chelsea may have taken their summer
spending past the 80million mark but manager Roberto Di Matteo claimed
his spectacular transfer spree has not put him under added pressure.

Chelsea sealed the 7m capture of
Spanish right back Cesar Azpilicueta, 22, from Marseille on Friday and
finalised the 9m transfer of Wigan forward Victor Moses after he passed
a medical.

New recruit: Victor Moses with his Chelsea shirt after completing his move

New recruit: Victor Moses with his Chelsea shirt after completing his move

The European champions admitted in a statement that the 21-year-old’s display against them last week had impressed and he was unveiled before the Newcastle match on Saturday.

The Moses deal takes Chelsea’s spending just past 80m — owner Roman Abramovich’s biggest outlay in a single transfer window since he sanctioned a 112m spree in 2003, his first summer in charge.

Di Matteo said: ‘I already have enough pressure. I think the pressure is always there, new signings or not.’

Chelsea have spent more than any other Premier League club this summer but Di Matteo insisted champions Manchester City and runners-up Manchester United remain the favourites for the title.

Audition: Wigan forward Victor Moses (left) in action against Chelsea last Sunday

Audition: Wigan forward Victor Moses (left) in action against Chelsea last Sunday

He said: ‘We need to make up 25 points and I don’t think any team have done that in the history of the Premier League. They are still the two teams you need to beat.’

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s hopes of
off-loading Florent Malouda are being scuppered by the midfielder’s wage
demands. He is in the last year of his 70,000-a-week contract and has
been told he can leave Stamford Bridge by Di Matteo but he does not want
to take a pay cut.

The 32-year-old has attracted interest from Brazil but no clubs are
willing to meet his current wages, leaving the Frenchman in limbo ahead
of the close of the transfer window next Friday.

Transfer saga: Moses' protracted move has rumbled on for most of the summer

Transfer saga: Moses' protracted move has rumbled on for most of the summer

Malouda knows he could possibly earn a lucrative free transfer when his contract expires next season.

However, Malouda, who has not featured in Chelsea’s opening two
fixtures, is facing up to an entire season on the sidelines if he digs
his heels in to stay.

Di Matteo also insisted defender David Luiz, 25, was not for sale at any
price and claimed Chelsea are big enough and successful enough to keep
him after Barcelona were rumoured to be interested.

Roberto di Matteo"s Chelsea are Barcelona lite

Posted on by

Can Di Matteo's new look Chelsea team pass the test as Barcelona lite

|

UPDATED:

22:42 GMT, 10 July 2012

For years they have been the heavyweights of the Barclays Premier League. With Didier Drogba bulldozing opposition defenders, Chelsea won three League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League in eight seasons.

Now they are tearing up the rule book and starting again. It’s time for a mini revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are bringing in small, exciting players whom they hope can ape Barcelona’s tiki-taka passing style. Roman Abramovich and Roberto Di Matteo want pretty football – being efficient but unattractive to watch is no longer an option.

Viva la revolution: Chelsea's style will inevitably change next season

Viva la revolution: Chelsea's style will inevitably change next season

Out have gone much of the old guard.
Drogba is in China with Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou has signed for
Lille and Florent Malouda and Michael Essien could also leave.

In their places have arrived Eden
Hazard from Lille and Marko Marin from Werder Bremen, with Oscar due to
join from Internacional. All three are creative players to sit behind
Fernando Torres, who needs service in a way Drogba did not.

You have been warned: Eden Hazard

You have been warned: Eden Hazard

Add Juan Mata and Ramires into the mix and you can see that Chelsea are thinking big by thinking small. They want to kill teams with passing, not strength.

The club are making sure their new
signings are getting special treatment as they prepare for something of
a culture shock at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed Abramovich’s personal bodyguards chaperone Hazard and Marin into
training each day. They are important members of the Chelsea squad,
part of the future for this team.

Di Matteo has been obsessive in his
approach to the season, beginning his day at 8am and finishing long
after the players have left the training ground.

It has echoes of the long hours
Andre Villas-Boas used to put in but the atmosphere at the training
ground is far more relaxed under the Italian.

He will experiment in pre-season,
using Frank Lampard in the withdrawn role in which he excelled during
the Champions League. He will sit in front of the back four alongside
John Mikel Obi or Ramires.

Then come the little men. The plan is
for Marin, Hazard and Mata to work behind Torres, providing the 50m
striker with enough chances to finally kickstart his Chelsea career. The
trio will have the licence to swap positions, making them difficult to
mark and track.

Next in: Highly-rated young Oscar from Brazil is close to completing a 25m move

Next in: Highly-rated young Oscar from Brazil is close to completing a 25m move

Oscar, set to be the latest addition
to the revolution, can replace any of them. He will need to as
Chelsea’s fixture list will pile up with the campaigns in the Premier
League, Champions League, World Club Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

Di Matteo knows this is the start of
another journey for Abramovich, reaching for the stars as the framework
is put in place to carry on competing with other European heavyweights.

Only this time they will be
heavyweights of a different kind. Chelsea have won the Champions League
with defensive might, now they plan to mesmerise.

Changing face of Chelsea

Euro 2012: Yoann Gourcuff axed from France squad

Posted on by

Blanc axes Lyon star Gourcuff and Montpellier's Yanga-Mbiwa from France Euro 2012 squad

|

UPDATED:

10:05 GMT, 29 May 2012

France coach Laurent Blanc has dropped midfielder Yoann Gourcuff and defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from his 23-man squad for Euro 2012.

Olympique Lyon playmaker Gourcuff had a mediocre domestic season and failed to convince in a 3-2 friendly win against Iceland on Sunday.

Montpellier centre-back and captain Yanga-Mbiwa was the other unfortunate player to miss out on the tournament.

Holiday time: Yohan Gourcuff (left) has been axed from the French squad

Holiday time: Yohan Gourcuff (left) has been axed from the French squad

Out: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa did not make the final cut

Out: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa did not make the final cut

The uncapped defender and Gourcuff saw the squad trimmed from 25 to 23. Earlier in the week Loic Remy and Younes Kaboul left the running for a place at the tournament because of injuries.

France are in England's group for the tournament and the two sides face each other on June 11.

FRANCE'S 23-MAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Marvin Martin (Sochaux), Blaise Matuidi (Paris St-Germain), Yann M'vila (Rennes), Samir Nasri (Manchester City).

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Jeremy Menez (Paris St-Germain), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)