Former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly says the team is heading in the right direction under Italian manager Enzo Maresca. The Blues could secure Champions League football this season and remain in contention in the Europa Conference League as well as the FA Cup.
There has also been significant player development, with the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson building on their strong finishes to last season. The Italian manager has introduced a merit-based system where players compete for positions, which has been described in the British media as having an "A team" and a "B team."
Two years after Roman Abramovich sold the club and with more than £1 billion spent on players, former captain and 1998 World Cup winner Marcel Desailly says he sees signs of improvement. He told Telecom Asia: “This season has been promising, but let’s be careful not to start celebrating too soon because they are still a young team. I like that the new manager has come in and is doing things his way.
“You can see that he has standards and wants players to know they’re here to work hard. Only those who are ready to give their best will be given the chance.”
One player who was dearly missed last season was French defender Wesley Fofana, who was injured just before the team embarked on a pre-season tour of the United States under former manager Mauricio Pochettino. This season, he’s barely missed a beat and has formed a formidable partnership with Levi Colwill, which has gained considerable admiration. Desailly, who helped develop John Terry into one of the best center-backs in the world, says Fofana has immense potential.
“I mean, you have to understand pain to appreciate what it takes to come back from a season-ending injury like Fofana did and then command a starting spot at a club like Chelsea. That takes not only talent but also mental toughness. There are many players with skill but less mentality, but that’s not the case with Fofana. He will be a valuable investment for Chelsea.”
These days, Desailly spends most of his time in Ghana but frequently travels to Europe to work with beIN SPORTS, where he is one of their lead football analysts. He remains a bridge between Africa and the French team that won the World Cup in 1998.
Despite frequently reminding me during the interview that it was a long time ago, Desailly is very proud of that group of players and shared what was key to their triumph against a Brazilian side favored to win the tournament.
He said: “To win a tournament like the World Cup, you need more than just talented players; you need a common goal, and we had that. I mean, we had players like Didier Deschamps, Zidane, and all the top players. I was even sent off in the final, but it didn’t matter in the end, by the way. Beyond our quality, we felt the duty to deliver, and that drive carried us through to our Euro win as well.
"I think that’s true in life as well — you need a plan and a goal beyond yourself, something that keeps you fighting. If you have that, you’ll go places.”
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One team Desailly was keen to discuss during the interview was his former club AC Milan. Before joining Chelsea, Desailly had won the Champions League twice, once with Marseille and once with Milan. Those were the days when Italian football was the best in Europe, and he established himself as one of Europe’s top sweeper defenders during his time in Italy. Nowadays, Milan has become more of a selling club, and the power has shifted towards their rivals, Inter.
Asked how he felt about the current state of Milan, he admitted it was painful: “When I was at Milan, not challenging for the Scudetto was unthinkable. But maybe that’s just how football is today.
“The rivalry was intense, and we spent long hours at the training ground if we weren’t getting results. But a lot has changed. Footballers today are not just athletes; they’re brands, and everything they do can make money for someone.”
“But I’m sure Milan will be back. San Siro will be rocking again soon, and we’ll reclaim our place at the top of Italian and European football.”
When asked if he still watches Milan or any of his former clubs, he said he does, as football was the one thing that truly shaped his life.
“I still watch a lot of football. As you know, I work in television these days, so I travel around Europe, and I still get to watch my clubs play. I’ll continue to do so until my last day because, for me, football wasn’t just a job; I loved it.
“I lived it and enjoyed every bit of it. It meant a lot to me and helped me see the world differently, opening doors I never imagined. So yes, for me, it will always be my game.”
In a glittering career, Desailly played a total of 539 league games across six clubs and was knighted in the Legion of Honour by the French government. He also became France’s captain after Didier Deschamps retired and led the team to victory in the 2001 Confederations Cup.
