Malouda happy with role

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda is happy with his role this season under Carlo Ancelotti. The 29-year-old, who joined the Blues from Lyon for £13.5million in 2007, has finally lived up to expectations this season.

Malouda has finally settled, enjoyed his freedom and scored 15 goals this season to help the Blues to their first league title in four years.

The Frenchman is now focusing on attaining the club’s first double when Chelsea take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup final on Saturday Malouda said he hopes he can carry his excellent form into the World Cup for France next month.

“When you are new at a club you don’t really take responsibility, you just follow,” Malouda told the Daily Express.

“But I wanted to become a leader like I was at my previous club Lyon. So I talked to the manager and told him that is what I want to do at Chelsea.

“It is not difficult because, although there are big characters here, there are also a lot of intelligent players. You need a good mixture so that everyone brings his character into the team, but not the bad side of the ego.

“I have my character but must understand others as well.”

“This has been my best season, not only in England but of my entire career,” He added.

“But it has not finished yet and we have the opportunity to make history now.

“There were reasons why it took me some time. It was not only my performance, but Chelsea’s. There were a lot of changes at the club. I was new and I needed time.

“But I never lost my confidence. When I started this season, I was really sure I could prove to everyone that the club was right to buy me.

“The pressure we have had from the beginning of the season has been really intense but I have been ready for it. I have really enjoyed the big moments of hard pressure. I took responsibility. Maybe that has been the difference.”