Chelsea legend Florent Malouda agrees with Gary Neville’s harsh assessment and calls for a major overhaul at the club

Chelsea icon Florent Malouda has echoed Gary Neville’s scathing review of the club following their Carabao Cup final defeat, labelling the team’s performance as “unacceptable.” The Blues, despite their hefty spending, succumbed to a youthful Liverpool side, prompting Neville to brand them as “billion-pound bottle jobs.”

Malouda, who clinched the Champions League, Premier League, and three FA Cups during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, concurred with Neville’s blunt critique. “When you lose, you have to accept criticism. I don’t think that was a harsh comment,” Malouda stated, acknowledging the disparity between Chelsea’s financial outlay and their on-field results.

The former winger, who shared the dressing room with Chelsea legends like John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba, pinpointed the lack of leadership as a significant issue. He emphasized the need for game-winners who can steer the team to victory in crucial matches.

Chelsea’s recent spending spree, including the British record £115m acquisition of Moises Caicedo, has yet to yield the desired results, with the team languishing in 11th place. Malouda urged the club to address the structural issues and decision-making processes rather than focusing solely on the players or management.

He also highlighted the failure to develop young talent to a world-class level as a glaring problem. “We manage to attract players and young talent, although not the best talent because we don’t have Champions League football,” Malouda explained, stressing the importance of nurturing these prospects to reach their full potential.

As Chelsea grapples with their current predicament, Malouda’s candid insights shed light on the challenges facing his former club and the need for a comprehensive overhaul to restore their former glory.