The Hindu : Sport / Football : Desailly quits Chelsea

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Thursday, Jul 08, 2004

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Desailly quits Chelsea

By Matt Scott

LONDON, JULY 7. Marcel Desailly last night quit Chelsea by mutual consent, a year before the expiry of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Desailly, France's captain at Euro 2004, feels inclined to remain in England although after being contacted by a former club, Marseille, he has returned to his homeland to consider alternatives. ``I'm not finished yet,'' he said.

Desailly, 35, announced his retirement from international football on Sunday. Chelsea's fans will perhaps remember the defender most fondly for his equaliser in the final fixture of the 2002-03 season against Liverpool, a result which secured the club a place in the Champions League qualifying round, so attracting Roman Abramovich's subsequent £300m investment at Stamford Bridge.

It is expected that John Terry will assume the club captaincy, having taken over in Desailly's absence last season. There is dressing-room support for those claims, to which Carlo Cudicini has added his weight. ``John Terry should be captain, for sure,'' the goalkeeper said. ``He's just 23 but he's got great experience and personality. He showed that last season.

``He is the player who has impressed me most. He was a young lad in 1999, who trained with the reserves. Suddenly, in two years, he's one of the top players in Europe.''

Desailly's departure came as a surprise, since Robert Huth, 19, had been expected to be sent out on loan. Instead Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho has shown faith, putting into practice his reference for application over reputation.

``The manager said yesterday that now football is about a great spirit and team, not individuals,'' said Cudicini. ``He said he wants a great collective, not just stars. Porto played as a team and that's why they won the UEFA Cup, Champions League and the Portuguese league. We have to look at that team and try to understand his philosophy.

``Marcel has a great personality and he's been a strong captain, a great player for Chelsea. He had a lot of experience and helped John Terry and William Gallas a lot.

``It's a pity he's going to leave but he has the experience to decide when he will finish. We'll miss him but we're not desperate to buy other players because there's a big gap. Of course not. Robert Huth and William Gallas are great players.''

It is a policy that Cudicini, under pressure from the £7.1m arrival of the Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech due on July 21, appreciates. Having joined for £160,000 from the Italian club Castel Di Sangro, Cudicini could be forgiven an inferiority complex.

``I don't think money should play a part,'' he said. ``Someone can cost £8m, £9m, £10m but that doesn't mean they have to play. The challenge is on the pitch, not in transfer fees. I have to say that in my first season the competition was the same. I had it with Mark Bosnich and with Ed De Goey before him.

``It is important to show my ability and then the manager can decide between the goalkeepers. I have to be one of the three or four who stay in the club in August.''

Mateja Kezman's £5.4m transfer will be complete at the weekend, once his work permit is granted. The Serbia-Montenegro striker passed a medical on Monday and immediately agreed terms.

``I know what Mourinho wants,'' Kezman said. ``I have spoken with him a few times and I know what my position will be. The situation at Chelsea is really fantastic.''

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