Florent Malouda once explained in an old interview that when he first signed for Chelsea, he was urged by Didier Drogba to watch one teammate really closely.
Retired winger Florent Malouda, who spent six successful years at Chelsea, left Lyon in 2007 to move to Stamford Bridge.
In 229 Blues appearances, the French attacker scored 45 goals and provided 39 assists. He also won five major trophies with them, including the Champions League in 2012.
Malouda opted to join Chelsea over Real Madrid at a key stage in his career, and he certainly enjoyed his best years in West London.
John Terry, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard in a Chelsea training session.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Didier Drogba urged Florent Malouda to watch Frank Lampard when he joined Chelsea
During a segment with Soccer AM in 2015, Malouda recalled a key message he received from teammate Didier Drogba when he first joined Chelsea in 2007.
Apparently, Drogba’s message was to watch Blues star Frank Lampard to see what he does.
When discussing Chelsea midfielder Lampard, Malouda said: “He’s a great professional and a great example to follow. Arriving in England in this league I remember Didier Drogba telling me, ‘watch (him) because you have to learn’. This hunger to score goals and to make the difference. I’ve seen him so many times score winning goals.”
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In fairness, any new Chelsea signing in the mid-2000s was walking into a stacked dressing room with the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Petr Cech and John Terry.
In terms of Lampard, he was at the very peak of his powers between 2004 and 2010. The English central midfielder was scoring, assisting and physically dominating at the highest level. He was setting the standards, both on and off the pitch.
John Obi Mikel hailed Lampard as the best trainer he ever saw in his career, which is a common theme from his peers over the years. He was the prime example of how hard work can take you to the very top.
Frank Lampard in a training session for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images
Frank Lampard training story
As well as an unforgettable club career, Lampard also earned 106 senior caps for England.
Appearances Goals Assists Yellow cards Red cards
106 29 12 5 0
Frank Lampard’s record with England
Former Everton defender Phil Jagielka once told a fascinating Lampard story from his time in England training. Jagielka said: “To see the standard, I watched a shooting drill, I don’t think anyone missed… People would always question about who’s best: Lampard, [Steven] Gerrard, [Paul] Scholes and people like that. You’d have your own opinion. I don’t think Frank missed one shot. Some of them don’t even look clean and they go in the bottom corner. It can’t be lucky it was an ability. It was a next level.”
It could take a lifetime until we see a genuine central midfielder as deadly as Lampard in front of goal.