Florent Malouda was on the same Chelsea squad as Kevin de Bruyne over a dozen years ago, when the Belgian’s first attempt at cracking the English topflight resulted in frustration.
But despite KDB eventually returning to Blighty with Manchester City and cementing himself as one of the best midfielders in EPL history, Malouda feels recent rumours of a second Blues stint for De Bruyne should stay as exactly that.
Malouda went on to explain in an exclusive chat with Racing Tipster how he thinks Kevin should navigate the final phase of his playing years, offered Cole Palmer some advice on how to bounce back to previous form, offered two ideal suitors for fringe Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku, and weighed in on how Lamine Yamal can follow in the footsteps of generational greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Question: Chelsea are on the verge of another European final, would winning that be enough for Enzo Maresca to consider this season a success even if they miss out on Champions League football?
Florent Malouda: Yes. Because that would be a first title, a first trophy for this group of players under Enzo Maresca.
The only way for me to assess a good season for Chelsea, or any club, is how many trophies you win at the end of the season.
A win isn’t just about the trophy either. A Conference League win will give the players and fans hope and confidence in the project.
With all that at stake for the club, and the manager, I think there’s a lot of pressure and I think it is a must-win for the club, and that it will be a successful season even if they don’t get Champions League football.
Should Chelsea keep Jadon Sancho next season and why?
I didn’t see what I was expecting from him after he joined on loan from Manchester United.
For Jadon Sancho, it’s not about his talent anymore. The point is more we haven’t really seen Sancho showing that he really wants to succeed on the pitch with Chelsea.
So at this point I don’t think it would be a good thing for him to stay at Chelsea, because I guess that the club will try to sign new players, so he will probably go back to Manchester United.
Cole Palmer has been struggling for form recently, what have you seen in his game and what does he need to do before the end of the season to get things back on track?
The first goal after a while (against Liverpool) is a good thing for confidence. For such an important player, what’s key is what we might call invisible training. Making sure recovery is right, making sure everything is settled off the pitch.
There’s so much expectation on him and he is the key player. So it’s very demanding physically and mentally.
I think this is where he needs to find the right balance.
You need to see him enjoying his game, and I think that’s where you can get the edge, and make sure that you perform in the top games and make the difference.
Will a Europa Conference League win represent a successful season for Chelsea?
Yes. Because that would be a first title, a first trophy for this group of players under Enzo Maresca.
The only way for me to assess a good season for Chelsea, or any club, is how many trophies you win at the end of the season.
A win isn’t just about the trophy either. A Conference League win will give the players and fans hope and confidence in the project.
How do you rate their chances at the FIFA Club World Cup?
We are not favorites, but to be part of this competition is a great opportunity. I think it’s not about the prestigious clubs so much as it is about who has the freshest players.
I think it depends on how hungry the players are to win the trophy, and there are others who have been hungrier for titles.
I don’t think Chelsea are favourites, especially compared to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and even Man City. I think they have the dynamics to win the trophy and make a mark.
What have you made of Tyrique George since he made his first-team breakthrough? Can you see him becoming a regular starter for Chelsea?
He has the potential. It’s a bit early to say that he will be a regular starter. We’ve seen it with other players.
I think now is about getting experience, getting confidence, getting stats as well. After that, I think it’s more about the psychological part.
He has to show he has the will to prove every game that he deserves to start. It’s like nothing is granted and you have to be consistent.
You have to have this mentality to force the manager to put you in the starting lineup.
Chelsea are said to be keen on adding experience to their squad. They did consider Virgil van Dijk before he signed a new contract with Liverpool. Is there anyone you think they should buy this summer who could provide them with more leadership and where do you think they need the experience most?
Virgil van Dijk would have been a great signing, that would have been an excellent opportunity to sign him on a free. These are the kind of players that Chelsea need, experienced players for the spine of the team.
Kevin De Bruyne is on a free, but it’s rarely a good idea to re-sign a former player. Most of the time it doesn’t work, and for Kevin, he’s done everything he can already in the Premier League.
So in terms of motivation at this stage of his career. I think it would be better for him to leave the Premier League on a high. So that’s my perspective as a Chelsea fan, but also as a former player. I think at this stage he needs to enjoy himself on the pitch and go for a new challenge outside of the Premier League.
Christopher Nkunku has been linked with several other Premier League clubs. Do you see Chelsea selling him to the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool? Or should they give him another season to prove himself?
Arsenal or Bayern Munich would be the right kind of place for him to go, but I’m not sure he should go. Personally, I like him as a player, as a person. I would love for him to fight. To prove what he showed in the beginning. I think it’s more a mental aspect that he needs to work on a little bit, like Jadon Sancho. Moving clubs, it’s sometimes running away from what you have to adjust.
He’s used to the Bundesliga, but at Bayern, there would be competition too. So for me he has more things to improve. But it’s like he kind of gave up mentally, and that’s what he needs to adjust. But yeah, Bayern Munich or Arsenal would be good clubs for him to continue to progress and, and most important is to prepare for the World cup coming next year.
Are Liverpool favourites to win the Premier League next season? Who’s their biggest threat?
It’ll be the same as last season. Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool will be challenging again.
The other teams behind them, it depends on how smart they are in the market. Those three, though, they just need to add a couple of touches to their squad.
The chasing pack, they need to be efficient in the transfer window. They’ll need to assess their current squad and work out how to improve it, who to sign.
Liverpool, City and Arsenal though, they already have the squad to be challengers.
Do you regret not joining Liverpool?
I mean it was just a matter of timing because the deal was pretty close because it was actually Gerard Houllier who made the deal. Houllier was a mentor to me. I always went to him for advice, he was always praising the Premier League. I remember we were on the training ground, I think he called Rick Parry and confirmed there was an interest. He was pushing for me to go there.
But in terms of timing it was more like I was expecting an offer from Chelsea just to have options. Real Madrid as well at the time made an offer. So it was more about timing and my connections with the players in the dressing room, because obviously I knew Didier Drogba. I was playing in the national team with Claude Makelele, with William Gallas. I played with Michael Essien.
Before joining, I came a few times in London to support Drogba. So I had more connections with the players on the Chelsea side and I had more connections with Liverpool on the management side.
But I mean history proved that it was not a bad choice to join Chelsea!
Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White are tipped to be potential replacements for Kevin De Bruyne – are they the right players to buy?
They’re the most obvious players on the market. They’ve both played at a high level already. Florian Wirtz is already winning titles, he knows how to compete with other players to get into the starting eleven ahead of others.
They’re the two clear candidates to join Manchester City.
City can attract any player in the world. They often find young South American talent, they could find the best African talent.
Their scouts can find treasures in a host of countries, but on European soil, Gibbs-White and Wirtz are the most obvious choices for City to replace Kevin De Bruyner.
Which one signing do Arsenal need to become title challengers?
My opinion is that every team should have a strong spine of the team with top and experienced players, established players. Players like Virgil van Dijk. They could go for this type of leader at the back, and a striker as well.
They need to have a striker that can score more than 20 goals a season, someone like Alexander Isak. If they can compete and go for someone like him, who knows the Premier League and is definitely going to deliver goals, it makes a huge difference.
That’s what Manchester City had with Erling Haaland. You just can’t compete for a title without a player who is scoring more than 20 goals a season.
Do you think Pep Guardiola has what it takes to rebuild Manchester City? What could he have changed?
He can reflect on his own mistakes and reinvent himself, so yes, he can definitely rebuild for next season.
I’m not sure it was a mistake exactly, but you could see for the first time this season how the pressure gets to him and affects him as a person. We saw the man behind the manager, and you could see it was affecting his choices.
In the long term, he needs to be able to handle pressure well. This year it seems like it was too much for him.
It’s also how he regenerates himself, how he also surrounds himself with the right staff. Enzo Maresca, Mikel Arteta, two of his support system have gone. Maybe it’s something he needs to adjust.
Of course, he has plenty that he can show us about success, about building a club like this, about managing it, but even the greatest still needs support.
Which midfielder should Man City sign?
Manchester City will really struggle to replace Kevin De Bruyne. I don’t think City had prepared well enough for him reaching the end of his time at the Etihad. The squad is overcrowded in some places but not ready to replace him.
Of course, like Toni Kroos at Real Madrid, it’s not a simple case of just replacing him. But when City lost De Bruyne and Rodri, that’s when they lost their advantage.
I think they should go for a player who already has Premier League experience. I would. I would go for the Belgian player, Youri Tielemans, who is at Aston Villa. I think in the midfield at Manchester City, they need the kind of player he is.
Who are the best three wingers in the Premier League?
Mo Salah, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka. For me, they are the best wingers. They are not just wingers, they are goalscorers and they are match winners. So that’s the best three for me.
The best, he’s already in my team! It’s Cole Palmer for me because I think Mo Salah obviously made history in the red shirt of Liverpool, but I think Cole Palmer has given us hope. That’s the kind of player you pay to watch. It’s really exciting, there’s always something happening. And I like his cold and chill personality.
Champions League
What do you think Lamine Yamal needs to do to reach the level of Ronaldo and Messi?
That’s too much right now, and that’s also in a kind of way erasing his own personality. He’s probably inspired by a mix of both, but you can see has his own touch. He has his own personality. Of course he’s still young, but so experienced.
I’m not sure that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi did what he did at his age. Now it’s more about longevity and how he not only maintains this level but improves.
Where we will be able to compare the three players if he sets goals to achieve and is able to maximise his talent. He should not be just happy with what he’s doing because now it feels like he’s comfortable. If he sets himself a high standard that matches his talent, I think he can be compared to those two, who are in a league of their own. But there’s a lot of years and games ahead of him to confirm he can meet his potential.
What do Arsenal need to do to get past PSG this week?
They need to be emotionally stable. They are able to do it. They need to put a lot of pressure on Paris to force a mistake, because Paris now is confident, and is getting excited about reaching the final and winning the trophy.
I think both teams are almost on the same level, but it’s more about how you are clinical on the day. It’s about who puts the pressure on, who is clinical.
Who do you think will be the winners of Inter v Barcelona?
Very difficult to say. I mean the first leg was great. Great football played. My favourite is Barcelona, but I’m worried about the Italian expertise in getting results.
So I would go for Barcelona. I think they have the edge because of Lamine Yamal’s form. Right now, he’s unplayable.
It’s very difficult to make a clear prediction, because both teams are about the same level, and Inter aren’t just a typical defensive Italian side.
They can score goals, so it really could be fireworks.
Chelsea
Are Enzo Maresca’s tactics hurting Palmer?
If you look at individual stats, maybe yes. What I think is good for his development is to play in that kind of position, because it gives him a different perspective. I think it’s temporary. It’s something that maybe he needs to develop and add to his game to be a more complete player.
Should Chelsea sign Cristiano Ronaldo for the Club World Cup?
I remember when the owners took over, they were assessing the possibility of signing him.
It would be more like a marketing and media coup than really in terms of sports logic, something that makes sense for the team.
It would be difficult to integrate him into the team, it would put pressure on the manager. It depends if you’re looking at other metrics, or if you want to help the team in the long term, and to keep stability in the squad.
Is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers what Chelsea need to kick on next season?
It’s hard to say if Morgan Rogers is the right player for Chelsea. There are so many players already in the squad to challenge for a place in the team, especially in this position.
I think he has the talent and potential to sign for Chelsea, but on the club side, it’s more that they sign him and use his talents properly.
Would signing Jobe Bellingham be a sign that Todd Boehly is not learning from his transfer mistakes of signing only young players?
He’s pursuing the same strategy. He’s doing the same thing. I don’t know if it’s a mistake to keep doing that, but they also need a strategy to develop the players that they sign. I think that’s where the mistake is, because everybody is excited about the players he will sign.
I don’t think there was a player, a player we signed already that we were not excited about. The problem is more about getting the best of the players already in the squad. Those players already in a Chelsea shirt. Jadon Sancho joined, everyone was excited, and now there is frustration because he’s not sparkling.
Is Victor Osimhen the ideal striker for Chelsea to sign to replace Nicolas Jackson?
Yes. Just like Arsenal, we need a striker that scores 20 or more a season. Osimhen is the kind of player who can do that. I think the issue for Chelsea is how much he’ll cost, and what wages he wants. That can be sorted out.
But we definitely need experienced players who can also give options in the way we are playing. So I think it should try to close the deal as soon as possible because there are reportedly a lot of clubs that are looking at him.
The links with Chelsea are strong. We’ve had brilliant African footballers in the past, and Osimhen can be the next generation of African players at Chelsea.
I would love to see him join the club. I think he would be an excellent signing. I also think he would help someone like Nicolas Jackson improve.
Do you think Ancelotti will be successful in charge of Brazil?
Yeah, definitely. Because in a very passionate country I think he could bring people together and use his experience to manage the structure of the national team first of all. Then he could share his experience of performing.
Also he has lots of experience working with so many Brazilian players, he can I think bring them on board as well, because of the respect that they have for him.
I think he would get support from the Brazilian legends and I think that’s what Brazil needs right now.
Was Didier Drogba or Karim Benzema the best forward you played with?
I played with Didier Drogba early on in his career, and I played with Karim Benzema early in his career. I played with them both in their prime, too.
I think I’d pick Drogba because of the success we shared at Chelsea, but at the same time, I’m amazed by Karim’s career, and I have so much respect for him. I saw something in him when he started, I could see the ambition in him. He was constantly raising the bar for himself, and was able to take on responsibility at a club like Real Madrid.
I think he’s one of the greatest players in French history, and I feel blessed to have shared the dressing room with him, because of his personality, and the way he is both humble and confident.
I played with Didier in his prime at Chelsea, and with Karim in the national team. I’d pick Didier because of what we did at Chelsea.
Do you think Enzo Maresca is the right man to lead Chelsea?
Definitely. He’s a young manager, so of course it’s normal that he still needs these experiences. Part of the Chelsea project has to be about developing the manager too, and giving the manager stability so he can gain experience. I think that’s the direction Chelsea should go because I think everyone is tired of all those changes and we need to identify one coach.
So he did great when he arrived. He’s still learning. I have this feeling he’s learning from his mistakes. He’s continuing developing his ideas. And now he has more experience with his young players. So I think he has a plan on how to improve things and match the other top teams.
What did Chelsea players say to John Terry after he missed his Champions League final penalty?
Nothing really. I think this type of moment, the dressing room is really silent because you’re quite in shock because it was so close. But there was nothing to say. I think not only John Terry, but also Nicolas Anelka. It was just like we lost together. We were all disappointed. So, everyone was like maybe reflecting on the fact it’s over and we need to start again and, and use that experience.
Was Avram Grant the right man to manage Chelsea in such a massive match?
Yeah, but I mean he was then getting the experience along the way, and he was doing pretty well. Because that was the first Champions League final that I think we reached. So it was quite normal. For most of us it was the first final. Maybe Claude Makelele had played in one before. Probably he played and won the Champions League, but other than that for all of us it was first time reaching this stage.
Before, Chelsea reached the semi final but never reached the final. So a game like this is more like how you handle the pressure and it was pretty close. When you look on the other side you had Alex Ferguson, and only a penalty shootout decided who was the winner. It was such a great experience.
What was the key difference between Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho as a manager?
I didn’t work too much with Jose, so for me it’s difficult to compare. They are both great men and great managers. I would say it’s more about the management styles. Jose would put more pressure on the players to get the best out of them. Carlo would more to collaborate and work on the confidence of the player, then give them responsibility. It’s different man management, but same kind of results.
Real Betis and Fiorentina are both capable sides – are Chelsea fans being complacent about expecting their side to win the Conference League?
I hope the fans won’t be complacent when it comes to assuming they will win the Conference League. But most important is that the players realise that first of all, it’s their responsibility to get the job done and second, to not lose focus.
If there is this feeling of complacent people about the job that needs to be done, they need to remember that it is not just about who they are playing, whether it’s Fiorentina or Real Betis.
What they need to do is focus on themselves, they need to prepare themselves in the right way, so that in the final, they can go for it.
What do Chelsea need to do to kick on next season?
It’s a question of consistency. The runs of form, up and down, mean we couldn’t compete over the long run in the domestic stage. I think that’s what’s missing to be a top team.
With consistency you can become a top team and win trophies under pressure. And we need an alternative to Cole Palmer, he can’t be the only match-winner.
Lyon
Rayan Cherki is an exceptional talent, do you think he would be the right man to help Chelsea strengthen?
Simple answer: yes, he’s ready, but I want him to stay in Lyon and give us more years and to keep developing himself in Lyon. I think right now with this kind of talent, you could have PSG going for him in France. He could have teams like Barcelona and in the Premier League he is a player I could see in a club like, like, Arsenal, like Man City. So in terms of talent, in terms of potential, he belongs to the Premier League. But I would delay. I want him to stay in Lyon.
Ernest Nuamah is a target for Everton – is he ready for the Premier League?
Not this summer. I think he needs to play more games and stay also in Lyon. I really appreciated that he fought to stay in Lyon because at one point, the club wanted to send him on loan or to transfer him to Everton.
He really fought because he likes the club, he loves the club, but he needs to work on his confidence. He was injured and now he needs to build back his confidence. So he needs another season to prepare to go to the next level.
The Premier League is really a different gravy in terms of intensity and in terms of speed. So I don’t think now is the right time for him.
France
Should Paul Pogba return to the PL this summer?
Yeah, definitely. I think he is a great player. He belongs to the Premier League. It’s a pity that it didn’t work as it should have done at Manchester United. Everything was there for him to succeed.
Right now, he needs to make the right choice to prepare for the next World Cup. He needs to build back his confidence, to be patient and at the same time be really focused and prove to himself first that he wants to play at the high level, and the Premier League is the best stage for that.
I’m surprised that clubs didn’t approach him as soon as possible and give him a chance to get his fitness up to speed, and get him really ready to get back to compete.
Have Man Utd made a good signing in Enzo Kaya-Biyik?
He was known as an exciting prospect, and he managed to get some games. I think he’s made the move a bit early, but that wasn’t a problem for Jeremy Doku, for example. He joined Manchester City and fitted into one of the best teams in the world.
For Enzo, I think it is a bit early, especially given the situation he’ll find himself in with Manchester United, where they’re struggling for confidence. It’s good for him to sign for them, but I’m not sure he’ll play in the first team just yet. He might be sent out on loan, and what’s important is the development plan that United have for him.
Do you think Zinedine Zidane would suit Chelsea as a manager?
No, I think it would be the same thing as at Real Madrid. Any project he would analyse, collect the information and come out with the plan, a strategy. He’s a maestro. So that’s what he would do. And then it would need insurance that it happens, not just promises. So I think it’s about ambition.
If he ever comes to the Premier League with Chelsea, he will want to better what has happened in the club’s history.. So maybe do a treble, win the Premier League, win the domestic cups, the FA Cup, but also to win the Champions League. So if Chelsea are not qualified for the Champions League, I don’t see him coming for this type of challenge.
Which French youngster except Cherki would excel in the Premier League?
Desire Doue, but I don’t think PSG will allow this to happen! But honestly, now Doue is one of the best players not only in France, but in Europe. Doue is the one I would go for if I had to sign a player right now.
I mean, first he loves football. He loves the game. You could see that he studied the game and he’s been doing this from an early age. So to see a player being ready to use his talent on the biggest stage, and also having the knowledge to know how to, is a good sign.
He’s willing to listen and learn, he’s taking on all the advice, he is the kind of player who is always looking to pick up information, and to develop himself. He is always looking to improve his game, and that’s what you see on the pitch. He’s developing his football IQ. It’s a sign that he will last at the high level.
Would Zidane be the right man to step in and manage Real Madrid for a third time?
Well, I think it’s not impossible, but I think it would be too many times. I think with what he did, he should go and explore somewhere else. But I think yeah, everything is possible in Madrid and, and it’s more about how he will be able to pick the players that he wants to improve the team, because I think he has the expertise of, on how to improve things more like an advisor. He could be someone close to the club who gives his opinion, but if he was in charge I think he would need to guarantee that he could go for the players to win trophies because that’s what it’s all about.
What did Zidane say to the rest of the squad when he was sent off in the World Cup final?
The only thing I remember is that the dressing room was silent, and he just apologised. So there were no long talks. He apologized and at the time I didn’t understand why he was apologising because, it’s not like now when you have the video instantly, you know what is happening.
I thought it was an injustice that he was sent off, so I could not understand why he was apologising. So that’s the only thing that happened.
Is Deschamps the right manager for France for the World Cup?
Yeah, definitely. Because of his experience, because of his background and because he designed and shaped this team.
There will be questions about what happens next. That’s usually the case before the competition.
And this sometimes can unbalance things because of rumours and speculations. But in terms of management he is the right man.
What are France’s chances at the World Cup?
I mean, we are definitely one of the favourites. If we have all of our players and this new generation did great in the Olympics, so we have a big pool of talent. If they are all in form, performing with their club, in the best clubs in the world, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t compete to win the World Cup.
With Kylian Mbappe, I’m not worried. Real Madrid are out of the Champions League. But when you look at his stats, the number of games, the number of goals and assists, he is consistent. And when you think that he moved, he changed clubs. I think he did pretty well in adjusting to the pressure of Real Madrid .
He delivered. Of course expectations are high. So sometimes you have this feeling, you know, it’s a little bit like when Messi was scoring 50 goals and then all of a sudden he scored 30 goals, people said he was finished. These types of players are strong and resilient mentally. And for me it’s thinking about how he can be a leader and lead the team to win a trophy. It’s more about how he can develop his leadership skills for the team.
That’s what we need with France right now. He needs to work on this ability to bring people together and support him. Like we have this great example of Messi and Argentina. The players wanted to give their all for the country and for their leader was Messi. If we can have that with France, I’m sure that will be at least in the final.
Do you think the Marseille fans have run out of patience with Mason Greenwood?
I understand, yes. Because the fans aren’t frustrated just with Mason Greenwood, they’re frustrated with the team.
Marseille is a different club. They will support you if they think you are representing and fighting for the shirt. You have to give everything, but they will lose their patience very quickly as well.
It’s like Napoli, football is everything for them. For Marseille, everything is about the football club, they’re massive fans.
So for me, it’s more about body language and how you show that you are passionate about their club.
Does Marcus Rashford have a future at Manchester United?
I don’t see any future for him at Manchester United, to be honest, because of the history, because of how many changes he had, and also because of how many times people were disappointed with him. People were waiting for things to suddenly happen again, and then nothing did.
So I don’t think Ruben Amorim will plan something around Marcus Rashford right now.
I think Aston Villa is the kind of club that gives you the opportunity to build yourself back, build your confidence back. Because I think there’s a problem. Talking about his body language, it’s how you show that you are passionate and you want it more than anything. And it’s not about the club.
I believe every player should show their commitment even when it’s hard, when it’s not happening, you should not give up and you should at the end overcome challenges. So for Marcus Rashford to move again, it would be like running away from his problems.
Bryan Mbeumo at Liverpool?
It will be tough for him with Mo Salah ahead of him, but I think that’s the next stage. It’s like you need to get out of your comfort zone. You need to go and set high standards.
Liverpool, I mean, this is the type of club you cannot refuse. When the opportunity comes you cannot think twice, otherwise you might regret it. So I think it just shows he deserves this opportunity and then it’s up to him as to how he prepares himself to match the challenge.
Is £400k a week for VVD too much of a risk?
No. Because now you see Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the discipline and the commitment they have to look after their body is now so high that 32 is almost young. So two years is not a risk.
Instead, I think it could give a boost to everyone because they are making history, and it’s better to have this type of players than to integrate new players.
So that will probably be a wise move, and that would make sense. The contracts will give hope to people who actually love football, that there’s players who remain loyal to a club for a long period of time.
What does Arne Slot need to do to make Liverpool even better next season?
Now they are champions, Arne Slot and Liverpool will face much tougher challenges. Not just domestically, but in Europe too
I think the pain of being knocked out of the Champions League will be tempered a little because Paris Saint-Germain are such a good team, but the pain is still there whoever eliminates you.
The challenge next year, then, is even higher. They need to go for the double, or the treble, and he will have to find what was missing that cost them on the European stage.
With all the criticism of robotic tactics, do you think you’d have suited modern football?
It’s happening a lot that new managers want to control everything. I’m doing my coaching courses and you see it a lot.
Pep Guardiola created this movement, but he’s still flexible. If you give him a different type of player, he’d still work out how to fit him into his system, and the tactical side.
But what’s important as well, thinking about Carlo Ancelotti, is how you manage the players as men, as people. I think this is where Enzo Maresca needs to develop himself. It is good to have ideas and your philosophy. But I think the key is that you learn with practice. What I saw from top managers is that it’s how you manage the man behind the player who makes the difference.