‘Chelsea need to sign a playmaker like Kaka or Wesley Sneijder’ – former Blues star Marcel Desailly

Desailly, who made 156 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club between 1998 and 2004, saw his former side relinquish their Barclays Premier League title to Manchester United this season and he feels that a world-class creative midfield player would help the club become dominant once again.

Speaking exclusively to Goal.com, the former Champions League winner said: “Chelsea need a playmaker.

“We need somebody who can play in between the strikers and the midfield to relieve the pressure from Essien and Lampard to go forward. Somebody who can take the game into their own hands like Kaka or Wesley Sneijder.”

The ex-AC Milan legend also feels the west London club need a stronger mentality when facing adversity, claiming that Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United are stronger under pressure.

Desailly said: “Chelsea need more consistency in their performances throughout the year.

“When you compare them with Manchester United in how they are able to handle the pressure, United don’t go flat, they don’t go crazy, they continue to work very hard and they deliver a performance every time. As soon as Chelsea lose two or three games, they have problems.

“I’m happy that they are working internally to restructure the club. They are a big club and they need make sure that whatever is happening, even if they are losing three games, that everybody is able to take the pressure.

“Ferguson is very strong on that and that’s why we are looking forward to having an experienced coach.”

Chelsea are currently without a manager following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on the final day of the season and despite reports that Guus Hiddink is close to being reappointed, Desailly has admitted that he would like to see a former Blues player take over the reins at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “We’d love to see Zola, Deschamps – the players from the past taking over, but it will probably be an experienced coach who can capture the pressure more than what Carlo Ancelotti has done.

“I would prefer an ex-player at the club but can they coach top-class players that they have played with? I don’t know.”

Captain fantastic | Desailly was a fan favourite during his six years at Stamford Bridge

The former defender also insisted that the dismissal of Ancelotti was the right move to take Chelsea forward, saying: “I’m sure it was the best decision for the club – Ancelotti had done his bit but maybe it was time to move on.

“I think Ancelotti and Abramovich will have been discussing the future of Chelsea such as who Abramovich was going to bring in and how he would like the team to be set up and they just didn’t see the same approach or strategy.

“The season before he won the league and the cup, the sacking would have been hard if it was just for that. They didn’t win anything this year but you have to be patient in football because other people have money and other people have the capacity to win.”

Desailly famously won the European Cup with both Milan and Marseille in the early 1990’s and feels that United’s defeat to Barcelona at Wembley could prove to be damaging next season.

He said: “Manchester United are confident and very strong but I think the Champions League final loss will be a big blow. They will go and holiday and not be happy like a team who have just won the league, they will be sad about the supremacy of Barca.

“The fans have accepted that Barca are better than them but I’m sure it will affect the players, like Giggs and Evra, who were expecting that final to be their last big night.

“Will they be able to save the team when it is needed throughout the year again? I’m not so sure.”

“I’m sure it was the best decision for the club – Ancelotti had done his bit but maybe it was time to move on.” – Desailly on Carlo Ancelotti’s dismissal

In regards to other challengers, the 42-year old expects Liverpool and Manchester City to put up a strong fight for the title next season, but believes that Arsenal need to make changes during the summer transfer window if they are going to be a force.

“I think it’s going to be open again,” he continued. “We are really waiting for City to show up and prove themselves.

“We are waiting for Liverpool to get back to where they were under Rafael Benitez when they were so strong tactically and technically – they were amazing. 

“They will be the new faces in the title race, I don’t think that it’s just between Chelsea and Manchester United.

“We also need to see how Arsene Wenger organises himself in the transfer market and obviously we have seen City and Liverpool spend a lot of money on players so it’s tough. It’s going to a very open season.”

Marcel Desailly is a judge for Barclays Fan of Hong Kong competition which is aiming to reward the region’s most passionate supporter with a VIP experience at the Barlcays Asia Trophy. Fans can enter the competition by visiting www.barclays.com