This is going to be your second season in India. What have you made of the Indian talent that you have seen? Do you think the country can improve on their rankings?
I can not speak about the grassroots’ level in India as I only follow them on social media. However, the staff, coaching, training routines, these are the most important factors which play a huge role in making a team. That’s how the progress can happen. A big country like India should have the ambition and improve their ranking. But I also understand that football is not the most followed sport in the country.
But India is starting from a point and I believe that when this country finally decides that they want to improve, I’m sure they will improve. ISL is one thing, but the structure of football in the country is the most important thing. If you want to improve, the key is to give an opportunity to the mass to play football at a good platform. India has the players, but they need the right platform.
Who is the better striker according to you between Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba?
I don’t know. I won’t pick one because one has stopped playing and the other is still playing. I have respect for both of them – Didier is my friend and I have played with Thierry for the national team. I’m really close to both of them and they both inspire me. But I have played more with Drogba at Chelsea.
Their profiles are different like it is with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, so It is difficult to choose. But one thing that I’m sure about is that if I pick my World XI, I will have them both where Drogba will be the striker and Henry will play just behind him.
What do you make of the current Chelsea team and their performances under Antonio Conte?
It was difficult to see Chelsea struggling last season and I’m sad again that we have recently lost to Liverpool and Arsenal. But as a former player, it is difficult for me to comment. I want to see them play well this season under the new manager and not produce a repeat of last season.
During your six seasons at Chelsea, you played more than 220 games for the club. Was it the best time of your career as a player?
Yes! I think I was at the peak of my club and national team career because I won titles. At Chelsea, we won the best league in the world. I was also a French international who was playing all types of competitions like the World Cup, Euros, and it was always very intense. I had so much pleasure as I played in some of the best stadiums in the world at a competitive level. So yes, it was the peak of my career. My last game was the Champions League final and I have only good memories of my time as a blue.
Will you give the Ballon d’Or to Antoine Griezmann for his performances last season?
Haha, I will give him but I don’t vote for it (laughs). I hope he is not depending on my vote. But on a serious note, it was pleasing to see a fellow French player performing the way he did. He gave so much pleasure to France at the Euro 2016. He is always playing well and scoring goals which is nice to see.
It is good that a French young player is playing so well and is amongst the top three players in the world. Last season, it was Paul Pogba and this season it is Griezmann. So for us, french people, it’s a great feeling as he is also the future of the national team.
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Do you think Olivier Giroud is the right choice for France upfront?
I think he didn’t disappoint France at the Euros. But I think there was a debate in the media which placed Benzema and Giroud as opponents. But I feel when you are playing for the national team, its good to have both players in the team. We should not put any player against another fellow player. I will play with both.
Giroud is the target man and both can play together as well. Both are good assets for their team. I would love to have Giroud in Delhi Dynamos (laughs). Any team would love to have a player like him who helps his teammates.
What can the Delhi Dynamos’ fans expect from Florent Malouda in this season of ISL?
I will be leading the team as I am the club captain. I will try to bring the team to a level of performance where we can be one of the top teams of the ISL. Like, in the first season, we did not qualify for the playoffs, but last season we did. We had failed to reach the finals, therefore. our aim will be to reach the finals and if we reach there, we will try to win the trophy. But we are looking at taking one step at a time.
What you can expect from me is that I will keep reminding every player in my squad that we are here to do better than last season.
