When Chelsea’s new £13m winger, Florent Malouda, marked his debut in the Community Shield with a goal and a fine all-round performance it seemed the Blues had signed a quality player. 

Chased by Liverpool before his move to London, the French World Cup finalist was also voted the best player in France in the 2006-07 season. This was a left-footed midfielder who was said to be at the peak of his ability and was also a proven international that Chelsea fans believed would be a more than capable replacement for Arjen Robben.

Malouda was believed to be the classy out-and-out winger that Chelsea had needed in the previous campaign. His understanding with Didier Drogba from their time at Guingamp in France was cited as a key reason why Malouda would be a success in England. 

'His frustration at his first few months at Chelsea came to a head when he hit out at life in London in an interview'


But just two weeks into the campaign critics were already getting on Malouda’s back after his controversial dive won a penalty at Anfield that Frank Lampard converted in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

In the months that followed Malouda failed to impose himself under new Chelsea boss Avram Grant and his frustration at his first few months at Chelsea came to a head when he hit out at life in London in an interview.

He told journalists of his fury that he was not sent a private jet when returning from international duty with France before launching into a tirade against the set-up at Chelsea. He criticised the traffic in London, the lack of a winter break, the poor diet at the club, his team-mates who play like 'their brains are switched off' and the tempo of training that he described as being 'terrifying'. The fans were not happy at this outburst from their £50,000 a week winger with a seemingly poor attitude.

In November, Malouda strained knee ligaments against Schalke in the Champions League and without him Chelsea’s form picked up and the Frenchman would not appear again until January.

After returning to the side against Everton he began to appear more frequently for the Blues including their FA Cup defeat against Barnsley. His performance at Oakwell was to such a low standard that Malouda did not appear for Chelsea again for over a month. His lack of physicality against their lower league opponents so angered some supporters that they had no issues with his subsequent absence from the first team.

As the season came to a close Malouda’s form did pick up. He scored a goal in the run-in against Newcastle and set up John Arne Riise’s late own goal in the Champions League tie at Anfield. He is expected to appear frequently for France throughout Euro 2008 and has a chance to show the Chelsea fans the player he could be.

There is no denying that Malouda is a quality player, his form at Lyon shows that. His man of the match performance for the French side against Real Madrid in the Champions League made Europe sit up and notice him.

But after a season in which he made just 20 starts, with only two goals and plenty of critics, Malouda has plenty of work to do if he is going to cement a permanent place under Chelsea’s new boss next season.