Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has issued an apology to Arsenal defender William Saliba. He had previously stated that the French defender did not have above-average qualities and stated that he was not going to become a world-class player.
Speaking to Card Player, Desailly said his judgment of the Arsenal star was flawed, adding that the defender has proved him wrong in just two seasons. The former Chelsea defender believes that the 24-year-old has quickly adjusted to the Premier League and has played a key role in the Gunners' campaigns under Mikel Arteta. He said (via Standard)
"I have to apologise to William Saliba. I looked at him when he first joined Arsenal and I didn’t see him becoming a world-class player - that was a huge misjudgement! He has shown leadership, consistency and he has such a high ceiling; we haven’t even seen the best of him yet. he club was desperate for leaders a few years ago, and Saliba is now part of the leadership group there. He’s helped take the Gunners to the next level and allowed them to challenge for major trophies."
Desailly went on to add that France are lucky to have him in the squad and he is backing the defender to do well at the FIFA World Cup this summer.
“France are so lucky to have him too; they can rely on a brilliant centre-back in him at the upcoming World Cup. He’s a really valuable asset to both his club and country, and I look forward to seeing how good he can become.”
The Chelsea icon had backed Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate, and Dayot Upamecano as the better defenders, stating that Saliba was not at their level back in 2023.
Chelsea icon issues warning to Arsenal in Premier League title chase
Marcel Desailly has warned Arsenal that they cannot get distracted from the Premier League title chase this season. The Chelsea legend wants Mikel Arteta to make the league his main focus, with the UEFA Champions League and domestic cup competitions taking a back seat. He said:
“The Premier League is far from over and stranger things have happened in football - that’s what makes it such an amazing game. Arsenal need to be careful by not becoming too distracted by the Champions League or other domestic competitions like the FA Cup. They can’t afford to lose any key games that might knock the wind out of their sails, such as their match this weekend against Manchester United. While Arsenal have accumulated a commanding lead in the Premier League table, things can change on a weekly basis.”
Arsenal are on top of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League this season.