Jose: Room for two wingers
13 Jul 2007 - 09:35:58
Jose Mourinho has backed Florent Malouda and Arjen Robben to play together and believes the twin threat of the speedy wingers can help Chelsea rediscover their best form.
The Blues boss completed the £13.5million signing of Malouda from Lyon earlier in the week.
However, the arrival of the France international has cast doubt over Robben's future at Stamford Bridge as the pair both normally operate on the left wing.
Robben has continually been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid and did little to ease the speculation by claiming negotiations on a new contract were not running smoothly on the first day of Chelsea's pre-season tour to the US.
But Mourinho insists there is room for both players in his team and believes the acquisition of Malouda will provide some much-needed competition.
"We have competition almost in every position and I think that is very, very important," said the Portuguese coach.
"I know that everybody is watching Florent and Robben in the same squad but you have to remember that, in my opinion, the best football we played in the last three years was when Robben and Damien Duff were playing together in the same team.
"So why can't Florent and Arjen play together? Yes, there is competition between them but yes, they can play together in the same team.
"Florent is one of these players that you don't need to present. Everyone knows his qualities and what he did in the past with his club, Olympique, and in the French national team.
"And I want to make it very, very clear that he's not here to replace anybody. I understand that many people think that's why he's coming, but that's not the objective.
"The objective is to have a very good player with a very good mentality and who can very easily adapt in my opinion to the needs of English football."