Florent Malouda on Chelsea win: Perseverance was the key against MSK Zilina
Florent Malouda expressed his views on Chelsea FC’s victory against MSK Zilina on Tuesday night which was their 5th consecutive triumph in the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea had already qualified for the round of 16 after winning all of their previous 4 European matches. The English champions came into the match after a poor string of results in their domestic league, where they lost 3 of the
last 4 matches. A fixture at home against the minnows was a perfect chance for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to get their winning confidence back.
However, The Blues did not have the start they were hoping for; Zilina drew the first blood when they rattled the net through Babatounde Bello in the 19th
minute.
Chelsea then tried to force the issue and got their equalizer in the 2nd half through Daniel Sturridge. The home side’s comeback was complete when a lovely move involving Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba was finished
off by the Frenchman Florent Malouda in the 86th minute.
The scorer of the winner, Malouda stated that the win was due to Chelsea’s strength of character and perseverance in search for a goal.
The winger said, “We conceded that early goal and had to come back in the game, but I think the key was the character and the way we changed our attitude on the pitch. And when we put more pressure on our opponents, it becomes
more difficult for them. Until you score the goals, you're always suffering against these kinds of teams. They were playing very well – a good passing game – and when they scored we knew it would be very difficult. But I think we had the character to come
back in the game and to push.”
Scorer of Chelsea’s equalizer, Daniel Sturridge also hailed his side’s reaction after going a goal down. The 21-year-old striker admitted that the attackers were put under extra pressure when the defence failed to keep things tight
at the back.
Chelsea’s previously impregnable defence seems to be leaking needless goals in the past few matches, and The Blues have not been able to record a clean sheet in their last 3 matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Zilina’s goal scorer Babatounde Bello was in high spirits after the match despite ending up on the losing side.
Bello labelled his 1st half strike as the biggest goal of his career. He said, “To play in London against Chelsea and to lose 2-1 is a source of pride for us. The match I've played today gave me courage that I can still
do many things in football. In the last match we'll do all we can.”
The Slovakian side have not managed to register a single point in the competition, and will be playing for pride when they face Spartak Moscow in the last game of the group stages on 8th December.
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