Friday 24 April 2015 20:42, UK
Metz star Florent Malouda picks his best XI from team-mates from his time at Guingamp, Lyon, Chelsea and with the France national side.
The former France international midfielder has opted for an adaptable 4-4-2 formation, and picks six of his former Chelsea colleagues...
GOALKEEPER: Petr Cech
Cech is the man for the big ocassions and the big games. The last one was the (Champions League) final in Munich. Preparing a goalkeeper's station is like mathematics - nothing is like an accident.
He is somebody in the dressing room with a big character and he's a leader as well.
RIGHT-BACK: David Luiz
I know with this offensive mentality that I have in my team he won't be frustrated so I trust him to follow the manager's orders and stay in that right-back position.
He's funny, but when it comes to reason, he is a guy that steps in and takes big responsibility in a team.
CENTRE-BACK: Lilian Thuram
He is a real defender with lots of experience. He is very, very solid when all the others will take the risk. I need two leaders.
CENTRE-BACK: John Terry
The second one is the captain. I pick a team with a lot of characters. I needed somebody to lead them and JT is a natural born leader. I need a player like him to make the team perform.
LEFT-BACK: Eric Abidal
I wanted to pick Ashley Cole because we had a great time together and we had a great understanding, but I have to pick my close friend Eric Abidal.
I started to play with him during my time at Lyon. He's a little bit like David Luiz in the dressing room always having fun and joking around. He has this faith and to sacrifice himself to help you be a better player.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELER: Claude Makelele
He is a leader and for me a tactical genius. He was the kind of guy telling you, 'be cool and and just stay in that position'.
MIDFIELER: Patrick Vieira
He is just a legend and makes things so simple. Playing with him was easy and that's the kind of guy when you train with them you learn a lot of things.
He's a fighter and you need that fighting spirit because not every game will be easy.
MIDFIELDER: Frank Lampard
In my team you're going for goals and Lamps is a great professional and a great example to follow. Arriving in this league I remember Didier Drogba telling me, 'watch (him) because you have to learn'.
I've seen so many times (Lampard) score winning goals.
LEFT MIDFIELDER: Zinedine Zidane
I would give him the freedom. Everytime you are stressed, everything is in slow motion for him. My team will play with style and class with Zizou.
STRIKER: Thierry Henry
I remember when I arrived in 2004 (in the national team), he welcomed me. I never even knew Thierry Henry even knew me.
He loves the game so much and he's an Arsenal legend.
STRIKER: Didier Drogba
I met him when we first played together in the second division in France at Guingamp.
Watching him get to the world class level when he scored that header coming out of nowhere in Munich. Then he had that opportunity with that last penalty. He gave us the Champions League which made me so, so happy.
He's a striker for the big occasions and big games.
