Malouda Frustrated with Ancelotti Diamond and Favouritism
By dixon9
January 2 2010
Florent Malouda has told to french football magazine L'Equipe that a combination of Ancelotti´s diamond system and what he perceives as name players being favoured over him leaves him unfairly out of the side.
Malouda had a surprisingly good 2008/09 season when Guus Hiddink was at the helm and changed many Chelsea fans opinion of him – he was becoming the player we thought he would be. This season however, he is reverting back to his previous poor form since not being regularly selected by Ancelotti – frustration no doubt taking its toll.
Tough diamond
"Carlo Ancelotti's tactical system is physically very demanding. Recently we showed less intensity, the game was less fluid. But that system allowed us to be in our current position. All the players support it,” said Malouda.
"Before the match against Birmingham, I talked to the coach. I told him about my frustration.
"I believe I have succeeded in my start to the season, but during the key matches against Arsenal or Man Utd, I was on the bench.
Favouritism putting World Cup place in jepeordy
"I have ambitions for the World Cup, and considering my status in the French team it is a little annoying (being on the bench).
"Ancelotti is aware of it. But currently I am paying for that system. It is not that easy for him either, he has a big group to manage.Then Malouda pretty much stated that Ancelotti is not always selecting his starting line-up according to previous performances:"
My competition with Lampard as left midfielder? It is his best position. He played like that in the England team, and we are in a World Cup year.
"But at a certain point, the status has to be in relationship with the performances.
"Anyway, I am fine so far. I could still be outstanding when I play.
Possible Chelsea exit
"The frustration is big matches. However, if there is no place for me in that system, I could go somewhere else.
"Finding a new club is not a problem. But the club has closed the door to any departure either in January or in June. The coach relies on me.
"I feel fine at Chelsea. But now, things have to change. When I came I was labelled as Mourinho's player. I have known five coaches and each time I have had to start again from scratch.
"Last season I earned a key-player status. Today it has been questioned again."
Diamond could not be forever
Some quarters of the Stamford Bridge faithful will say “Good riddance” whilst others would want Malouda to stick it out and give us the sort of displays we saw last season (the club won’t sell him yet anyway) but we could soon see a change in circumstances if Ancelotti experiments with 4-3-3 or even 4-4-2 which he said he might do after the recent turn around against Fulham.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.