Malouda: Alonso Has a Big Challenge at Chelsea & the Squad Must Find Leaders

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Chelsea and France star Florent Malouda has turned his attention to Stamford Bridge and the rebuild facing Xabi Alonso this summer.

The Champions League winner has assessed Chelsea 's links to Bradley Barcola and Maxence Lacroix , urged patience with Xabi Alonso , and explained why Cole Palmer 's World Cup snub could be a reset rather than a setback.

The former Chelsea man has also given his verdict on the futures of Enzo Fernandez , Reece James , Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke , and the leadership the squad must rediscover under their new manager.

Transfer Targets

Should Chelsea Fans Fear Barcola at Arsenal?

When you look at Bradley Barcola 's story, first of all, he's coming from the Lyon Academy. He made the right choices. When he left, it was not easy for him. He left, and he won two Champions Leagues in the best team in French football history. Of course, it's challenging when you're competing with Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue to start, but he showed every time he came on that he has the same level, maybe not as consistent, but he has the potential.

Choosing his next destination is about whether he is ready to take a leadership role, because that's what will be expected from him. You just won the Champions League ; any club buying you will expect you to lead them to winning these kinds of trophies. This is where he will be challenged. He could fit in any Premier League team, honestly. It could be Chelsea , Liverpool , or Arsenal . He's a very talented young player.

But for Chelsea , he could have a big impact at the club. My one concern would be which position exactly. That's why, for me, first we need to know how Xabi Alonso wants the team to play and then attract these kinds of players. If you do the opposite, it will be challenging for everyone. I think Xabi Alonso has a big challenge to organise the team first to be able to attract this type of talent.

Do Chelsea Fans Need Patience With Alonso?

Chelsea fans have to have patience with Xabi Alonso ; I think it will definitely be a transition. You have no European competition. You still have an interesting squad, but it's more about having this identity and this mindset of competing to win.

At the moment, we are a bit far from the top teams like Man City , Arsenal , and Liverpool . We are, honestly, not on the same level. We were very dependent on Cole Palmer , for example, for a while. Now we have to find the right balance to be competitive all over the squad. I think that's what Xabi Alonso will have to deal with when he arrives.

Is Cole Palmer's World Cup Snub a Good Thing?

Will it be painful for Cole Palmer to watch England ? I don't think so. I think it should be more like a reset for him and a way to be inspired. When you look at this England squad, they are very good. The players are very good, and he was not really consistent at the end of the season. So I don't think he would be able to compete in that team.

Obviously, for Chelsea , it's also good that he's got some rest, because maybe he paid the price for that long season he had last year. That's why I see it more as a reset. It shouldn't be painful. He should look up to it, like, next World Cup , I need to be there. The best way to get back to playing for England is to get back to his top form with Chelsea .

Would Lacroix Have a Big Impact at Chelsea?

Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea ? I think a lot of players are linked to Chelsea , even though we already have a big squad. When you mention his name, maybe it's because we missed the opportunity to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace , so maybe we could make it right.

We definitely need options in that area; we need to be defensively more reliable. For him, it will be the natural progression after Crystal Palace ; it will be the step that makes the most sense. But again, what is the project, and how will the manager be able to convince him and make him a leader? Right now, we need leaders. Would he be that defensive leader that we expect? We will know soon.

Squad Decisions

Should Chelsea Let Enzo Fernandez Leave?

Depending on how the World Cup goes and what signal Xabi Alonso sends out to the players, Enzo Fernandez might be convinced that Chelsea is the place to be. The only problem we have, the main problem, is that we don't have European competition. This is what maybe would attract him. When I'm talking about leadership, it's a little bit like when Juventus went into the second division; some of the leaders stayed and showed that they took responsibility.

You cannot always blame the club that it's not good enough and want to leave. So I'd like to see some dedication from our vice-captain. It's how the new manager will be able to bring everyone on board, to forget what happened when he made those statements and create a stronger connection.

Is Reece James Key For England?

Reece James has a history of a few injuries, but he came back, and the fact that he played in different positions may have confused people. He played in midfield and in the right-back position. People had this feeling that he was not playing as normal. But in terms of leadership and experience, he is a reference. Who has lifted as many trophies as Reece James in the English national team? In Chelsea , he is the natural leader; he is the reference for the players who come in because he can share what he knows about the club and its history, especially with all this turnover.

After that, it's more about what he wants to achieve now. He is the leader, so what's next for him? Does he want Chelsea to win another Champions League , win a Premier League , and how does he connect with the new players? So I think it's more about expectations off the pitch that we have with him.

Could Rashford Be Valuable at Chelsea?

Chelsea should steer clear of Marcus Rashford , especially since we signed Jadon Sancho and we signed Alejandro Garnacho . This story with Manchester United players trying to get back to that top form is very tough.

Of course, he is a top player. We saw again when he scored his goal against Croatia that he has this ability. It's more about consistency where there are question marks. Again, it's the ability to lead the team to go and compete. To win trophies is not about the skills and the quality of the player; it's more about leadership. That's why, for me, this is not the kind of profile that Chelsea needs at the moment.

Might Chelsea Regret Selling Madueke?

I get back to the same point, consistency. Of course, Noni Madueke has the quality, but how consistent are you at the highest level of pressure? I think he gets confidence from the season he just had with Arsenal , and he's transferring it for the moment with England . But again, when you play for these teams, you are judged on the end product, which is lifting the trophy.

It's how reliable you are in high moments of pressure. Again, there are individual skills, but your ability to impact players around you is where he will be assessed. For me, this is what England needs. For him, maybe that's where his ambitions should be. I want to be the best individually, but I also want to improve the people around me.

And I think this is the next step for those young players. Chelsea shouldn't have regrets over Noni Madueke . Chelsea first have to deal with the number of players that we have in the squad and try to make it make sense. I mentioned this project and players signing for six or seven years. Now, with different levels of confidence, different levels of fitness, and a new manager coming in, of course, the manager wants new players most of the time.

But you need to sort out individual situations and bring people together. To add more players now, especially while the World Cup is on, is the wrong timing. First, you need to get players to leave and then bring in new players.

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