Malouda out to prove a point
Winger Florent Malouda insists Chelsea are determined to show the world that they have put their troubles behind them after Jose Mourinho’s shock departure in September.
Israeli coach Avram Grant replaced Mourinho and has helped the side to notch up a seven-game unbeaten run.
Grant’s record in the Champions League this season remains unblemished with victories over Valencia and Schalke, and the Blues face the German side again in Gelsenkirchen tonight.
Chelsea lead Group B and a win over the Bundesliga side will put them on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages.
However, Malouda insists the team have arrived in Germany determined to demonstrate to the watching millions that Chelsea are still a force to be reckoned with.
Malouda, scorer of the opening goal in the 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, said: “It is true we had a little bit of trouble inside the club, we changed the manager, but the fact is we had to go on.
“We need a lot of good results to get confidence and we need all details of the team to be good at the same moment. We come here as a group to prove to everybody that Chelsea can win a lot of things this season. I think everything is behind us now and we have to look forward.
“All the team is confident and we will try to prove it on the pitch. The team spirit comes from a lot of things. First the training – we train together and we train very hard – and when we train, it is to win something.
“All the players of this team wanted to come to Chelsea to win something. That is our ambition and that is what makes us have this great spirit.
“The Champions League is one of our objectives this season. We don’t like to choose between titles but it is a fact that to win the Champions League title, that is something very important in a career and I came to Chelsea for that.
“I hope that first we will qualify for the knockout stages. That is the first thing to do and after that we will see.”
Meanwhile Chelsea hope to have Germany captain Michael Ballack back in action soon.
Ballack has been out of action since April, having undergone two operations on his ankle, but Grant enthused: “On Monday he did his first training on the pitch with the reserve team.
“He did it very well and he has progressed very well in the last few weeks.
“We will see what happens in the next two or three weeks but he is going in the right way and of course I hope he will be available for us as soon as possible.”
