Makelele thinks big with Chelsea

13 April 2012

The first thing one notices about Claude Makelele is his height. Or rather lack of it. For a player responsible for firing Chelsea's midfield engine, making their watch tick and powering their battery - or whatever other garbled description Claudio Ranieri chooses to apply to his £ 16.6million signing - the Frenchman seems surprisingly small.

Patrick Vieira, La Grande Saucisse, could surely have him for breakfast alongside his bacon and eggs.

Makelele stands at 5ft 7in, weighing just over 10st, though his footballing stature is considerably greater. Vieira may have earned more plaudits, international caps and - until recently - higher wages but his partner in the France midfield has accumulated more valuable prizes. He won seven trophies in his three seasons with Real Madrid, including two Spanish Championships and the Champions League, and is keen to extend the collection during his four years at Stamford Bridge.

Ranieri hopes that Makelele will have the same galvanising effect that Vieira brought to Arsenal and the pair share a fearsome work ethic. Makelele was known as Three Legs at the Bernabeu, a nickname which, like Vieira's, carries more than a hint of innuendo, though the official line is that it refers to his awesome ability to get around the pitch. The 30-year-old is wary of comparisons but admits to a small man's desperation to prove his worth. A Napoleon complex, if you will.

Makelele said: "Patrick and I are players of different characteristics. You can't compare the two of us. I train to play well and will always do my best to help the team. I am an ambitious player and will do everything I can to ensure that Chelsea are successful. I will do everything for the players, the club and the fans."

Where the French team-mates really differ is in their achievements in Europe, a good omen for Chelsea as they begin their Champions League campaign against Sparta Prague tonight. While Vieira and Arsenal have only limited, disappointing experience of the top continental competition, Makelele featured in UEFA's Team of the Year in 2002 and 2003 and last season was named the competition's best player.

Makelele's influence was most obvious in his absence when Real were beaten in the semi-finals by Juventus last season. Without their midfield workhorse, the thoroughbreds were overwhelmed in a game that cost Vicente Del Bosque his job.

Having missed out on a second Champions League winners' medal Makelele is desperate for a long run in this season's competition, and believes his new club have as good a chance as anyone. He is still getting to know his team-mates, having played just 25 minutes against Tottenham on Saturday, but his first impressions have been positive. Makelele said: "Chelsea are a side full of quality-international players. We have the players to win everything.

"The manager is trying to build a team and if that happens we have a chance to win the Premiership and the Champions League.

"The most important thing for me is to help build a good atmosphere in the team. I want to be in the right shape for the team and the trainer.

"I want to make the team very competitive. The players have to deal with the pressure and have to get results on the pitch. The players have to support Ranieri in his job. If they do not do that then they should be punished. We can help Ranieri do his job."

If Ranieri really is fighting for his future then Makelele could prove a useful ally. The Congo-born star won his battle with Real president Florentino Perez, who was desperate to keep Makelele but reluctant to meet his wage demands, enabling him to join the nouveau riche at Stamford Bridge. Makelele said: "Real Madrid are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but Chelsea hope to become the biggest. I want to help them do that.

"Leaving Real was a big decision and I thought about it for a long, long time. Before deciding I spoke to my French team-mates, William Gallas, Marcel Desailly and Emmanuel Petit. They told me about Chelsea and their plans for the future and I decided to come here. I was surprised that Real Madrid let me go but was very happy that Chelsea wanted me. I would not have left Real Madrid for any club. Chelsea have always had good players and this has just accelerated."

Perez has already taken the opportunity to rubbish Makelele, but several former team-mates have stepped forward to laud Claude. Zinedine Zidane believes that Real are a "weaker side" without his fellow Frenchman, while Ivan Helguera described him as "absolutely irreplaceable". Even Vieira has admitted that: "If Makelele settles in, Chelsea can win the title."

The small man could have some big prizes by the end of the season.

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Makelele thinks big with Chelsea

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