World Class Dembele
Speaking exclusively to Genting, he said: “[Ousmane Dembele is] a world class player. He won the World Cup and Thomas Tuchel knows him, so I think he has the ability to bring the best out of him in the Premier League.
“I’m sure he can develop because he’s still young and I think Thomas Tuchel is the right man for that, not because of the time they spent together, but because of his knowledge when it comes to developing players.
“He’s not having a great time at Barcelona right now and I think for his career it would be the right move.
“When you have a manager who won the Champions League, who won the Club World Cup, wanting to sign you, that really helps your confidence.
“That tells the player, ‘maybe I didn’t play so well, but I still know who I am and I can play at a top club.’”
Impact On Rudiger
Malouda also praised Tuchel’s impact on Antonio Rudiger, who is due to become a free agent at the end of the campaign – and urged Chelsea to retain the defender.
“I think it would be important for the club and for the squad [to keep Rudiger] because he’s been part of a successful era at the club,” he explained.
“When I get back to when Thomas Tuchel arrived, Rudiger was not having a great time, and he turned things around.
“He’s a regular starter, he’s formed a solid base for the team, and if you want to keep being successful, he’s the type of player you want to keep.
“Not only for his individual talent, but for what he brings around him; the way he inspires other players.
“When you see him play, you see that other players rely on him. He brings that extra energy, that boost, and he’s really fearless. You can see on the pitch he’s fearless.
“This type of player will settle in at Chelsea, and that’s a big advantage. You definitely want to keep him at the club for as long as possible.”
Kante And Silva Setting Examples
And the 41-year-old has singled out Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante as examples of the sort of players that the West Londoners need.
He said: “Look at Thiago Silva, he has played at the top for so many years and he is still delivering at the top level at 37.
“Having N’Golo Kante in your team is like having the equivalent of three extra players. With him, I would say that it doesn’t matter which system you play, he fixes everything.
“If Chelsea manage to keep him fit, he adds huge value to Chelsea, and his attitude is inspiring for other players.
“When he plays, he’s everywhere and he’s giving everyone positive energy. I think that he was the main difference at the end of the season last year.
“I hope that he will be fit and that he can play in the same way for the rest of the season.”
Profile Of A Successful Chelsea Player
Malouda went on to explain the sort of psychological profile required for a player to be truly successful at Chelsea.
“You have to be tough [to play for Chelsea],” he continued. “You have to be mentally resilient because I can’t remember a season where Chelsea haven’t won a trophy.
“For some players, who could have been the star in other teams before they joined the club, Chelsea can be a frustrating place, because you’re not the main man.
“To be a successful player at Chelsea, you need to adjust your mentality and think only about the project, the club, the results. It’s not about individuals.”
The one-time France international also revealed his delight that former players such as Petr Cech, John Terry and Claude Makelele have returned to Chelsea and are helping out in various roles.
“It’s very important [to have club legends back] in terms of legacy and in terms of keeping the club’s DNA,” Malouda said. “[Cech, Terry and Makelele] were part of the golden era of the club.
“I can also mention Paulo Ferreira and Gianfranco Zola, who have come back to the club. I think it’s positive.
“It reminds me of Bayern Munich where they bring back former players and give them the support to develop within management and administrative areas.
“I think for the players coming in and the young players from the academy, it’s very important because these are players they would have looked up to. It keeps the quality within the club.
“This is something new. First players want to be part of the project, and then they’re included in the management team.
“I think it’s a top-quality sign from a football club. I think the fans also enjoy that these guys are giving something back to the club because they trust them.”
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