Speaking to Gambling Zone, former Chelsea defender and Premier League winner William Gallas criticised his former club following their 2-2 draw against Burnley, which left them rooted in the league’s bottom half.
Having been part of the Premier League’s best ever defence in 2004/05, Gallas had some strong words for the current team. The Frenchman had particularly strong criticism for BentiotBadiashile, who he said looked ‘scared’ in the 2-2 draw.
Ex-Arsenal defender Gallas also spoke about the summer transfer gossip, the title race and whether he was wrong about Kai Havertz after all.
Q: What did you make of Chelsea’s performance against Burnley?
“It was very difficult to see Chelsea against Burnley, because, as a former player, to see that club in that position is very hard. I looked at Burnley, at their line-up, and thought that they looked like an average team; to concede two goals is very difficult, especially against 10-men. It was an extremely disappointing performance again from a Chelsea team who are going nowhere it seems.
Q: What do you think happened to Chelsea in the second half, it seems to be a theme?
“I don’t know what Pochettino says to them in the dressing room, but it looked like the players in the second-half got pressure on their shoulders. They can’t play well, they can’t play together. It doesn’t bode well for Pochettino that they play worse after half-time.
“They have one player who can make the difference, Cole Palmer, but you need players around him who can do better.
“The defenders have to be stronger, and that is a problem for me, they are not good enough. Some of them are not good enough to play for Chelsea.”
Q: With the defence changing every week, how much of a problem is this?
“It is a problem to change the players in defence every week, because they don’t perform. They don’t do what they have to do and it’s unacceptable.
“The first thing they are is defenders, so they have to defend very well. They have to protect their goalkeeper. When you look at the first goal they conceded against Burnley, the reaction and movement of Badiashile looked like he was scared of the ball.
“Before we had John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho - with this partnership, we would never concede that goal. With players like Terry, we were fighting and giving everything to not let them score.”
Q: Who would you put in your ideal Chelsea defence if you were Mauricio Pochettino?
“Without Thiago Silva, you can see that they miss him. In the back-four or back-five we need experience. The players currently playing are not ready - not one of them is a leader.”
Q: Conor Gallagher seems like he slows down the play somewhat - does he have the quality to play for a big club?
“He has different qualities, and you have to put players around him who can make the difference. He’s not a playmaker, he’s a ball-winning-midfielder, physically he can run a lot and press very high.
“This means that around him, you need players with different qualities, like a playmaker who can play very quickly between the lines, giving good assists. Gallagher doesn’t do that and that’s why it doesn’t work for Chelsea with him in that position.
“It looks like the three players, Gallagher, Caicedo and Enzo, don't really match each other. That is a problem, so it shows how, at board level, they don’t really have any vision and they just buy players for the sake of buying players.
“You don’t buy players like this, when you buy players you have to know if he’s going to fit into the squad and if it’s going to be a good match for the other players. This problem shows that the board didn’t have a strategy.”
Q: Fans have criticised Todd Boehly’s recent decisions, including taking away fan coach travel - what does this say about him?
“Fans are really angry with Boehly’s business decisions not taking them into account, because the question is whether or not the owner really is a football fan like them.
“People have to ask that question, if the owner is really a fan of football - and I’m not talking about American football! They are doing business, pure and simple, for them it is a business and for that reason, they look a bit out of their depth in England.
“Abramovich was a big fan of football and he didn’t buy the club for business reasons, he bought the club because he was a fan.
“Then, with good results came trophies and Chelsea became one of the best clubs in the Premier League. It was just unbelievable, you have to give him credit for what he did.”
Q: What has changed from the years under Roman Abramovich?
“Under Abramovich, Chelsea always used to win regardless of if they were having a good or bad year, and that’s because they always had a strategy. When you run a club, you need to have people around you who know their job and want to do well.
“It looks like, at the moment at Chelsea, they don’t have the right people. I’m talking about the sporting director, the scouts and the people who give the advice over which players to sign and which ones have to leave.
“Chelsea won’t qualify for the Champions League, at the beginning of the season I was thinking maybe we would qualify for the Europa League; but now even that looks like it won’t happen. That would be unacceptable for Abramovich and that’s why he was so successful.
Q: Should Mauricio Pochettino be given more time, he still has the FA Cup?
“I’m always a person who likes to give people a little bit more time, especially for managers in Pochettino’s position. For the players as well, because when you arrive at a club it takes time to adapt to a new club.
“But now, Pochettino I think maybe should be given a few more games next season to see how they will start the season to see how the season looks and what is going to happen. Then, if they have to sack him, then they will sack him.”
“Pochettino didn’t win anything yet in England - he won nothing with Tottenham. The only thing he’s won is the league with PSG; but with them, all managers who go win Ligue 1 or Coupe de France, comparatively to the competition, they are so much better than everyone else.
“Many people thought he wasn’t going to do anything with Chelsea, because he didn’t win anything with Tottenham; and that looks like it’s going to happen. Now, we have to wait until the FA Cup, but it will be hard.”
Q: Someone who has been given credit is Malo Gusto, how do you judge his contribution?
“I like Malo Gusto, because he likes to give everything on the pitch and he’s a defender who likes to attack. However, first of all he is a defender, so he still has to correct some mistakes when he’s had to defend.
“He looks like he’s the same profile as Reece James, even though James is stronger. They are a little bit similar, because when they attack they like to be an asset, but they still make mistakes with positioning when defending. Gusto is very good and he could be the full package if he improves on the defensive side.
Q: You said previously that Nicolas Jackson should be given more time, do you feel justified in this now?
“Nicolas Jackson is a player I said needed more time, and he’s still young, only 22-years-old. He is a striker who can improve to score more goals, and now he’s scored nine times in 25 Premier League games; which is not too bad.
“I would set him a target of finishing on around 15 goals, which would be great. He still needs to improve in front of goal, against Burnley he showed good movement but his finishing was not good enough to take those chances.
“We can still count on him for next season, because he is still young and will improve.”
Q: Raheem Sterling has been panned for his performances, especially against Leicester in the FA Cup, what do you make of him?
“Sterling’s statistics speak for themselves, when he was at Manchester City he was scoring many more goals than now he’s at Chelsea.
“Right now, his performances are not good enough for his second season, so if you look right now his numbers are not great either. If the fans are not happy with him, then maybe that’s fair because when he was in Liverpool or Manchester he had great seasons.
“Since he’s signed for Chelsea, he has not performed in the same way as he did before and it’s understandable if some fans want to see him leave.”
Q: Reece James and Connor Gallagher have been linked with a transfer away from the club to aid FFP, would it be a mistake to sell them?
“Chelsea won’t sell Reece James, you have to keep players who have come through the academy and you need players with that identity.
“He is the captain, but unfortunately he is often injured - despite this, we should keep him. It’s the same for Connor Gallagher, they both have to stay.
“I know that there are problems with the finances at the moment, but they have to sell another player to fix this.”
Q: Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford have been linked with a move, would Fernandes in particular be a good fit with Chelsea needing a playmaker?
“Both Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes could be good options for Chelsea. Both are quality players. Bruno could definitely be the kind of midfielder who has the quality to play in the number ten role where Chelsea lack strength.
“Chelsea are a team of young players and Bruno Fernandes has the leadership qualities to get through certain periods. He’d be a good signing if the rumours are true.”
Q: Arsenal were criticised for their defensive tactics against Man CIty, what is your evaluation?
“Arsenal did their best, what they did, they did perfectly. What was important for Arsenal was to not lose the game.
“Especially when you play at the Etihad Stadium against that team, who can play so well and put you in trouble with their movement. You have to be compact and for that, the strategy of Arteta was perfect.
“For 90 minutes, they were running everywhere and defending compactly. Gabriel Jesus did his job perfectly as well.
“I said this months ago, if you have to win a game, you don’t have to play good football. On Sunday, they didn’t play good football but they got the point which is going to be important for them in the title race.”
Q: Mykhailo Mudryk has been pinpointed as a potential Arsenal signing - what would you make of this?
“I know that Emmanuel Petit spoke about Mudryk potentially joining Arsenal, as Arteta likes him. Mudryk could be a good fit, with his speed and quality and that’s why Arteta likes him. Before he signed for Chelsea, Arsenal nearly signed him but he changed his mind and you cannot forget that.
“I said before that Arsenal will win the title next year, not this year, and if they sign Mudryk that could help them.”
Q: What do you make of the title race and how things will pan out?
“For the rest of the season, it will be like a yo-yo. A few weeks ago Arsenal were on top, but now Liverpool are.
“I still think that Man City will be champions, but what I saw on Sunday in City vs Arsenal was something I haven’t seen in a few years with Arsenal. They changed their style, went to City not to lose, but to take points away from them.
“I would be happy for them if they can become champions this season, 20 years after the invincibles but I still think that City are going to be champions.”
Q: Have you changed your mind on Kai Havertz, or do you still believe he was the wrong decision to sign?
"Do I stand by my statement that Arsenal signing Kai Havertz was a mistake? Listen, I have to be honest, in the last few games he was better.
"He’s scored some important goals, but I still believe that for the guys who are bought for £60m, he hasn’t done enough.
"When you look at his statistics, 28 games and eight goals, and how many years did he play in the Premier League? I think it's been three or four years now. Only eight goals is poor for someone who has been in the Premier League for that time, so I still think it’s not a good deal for Arsenal, no question."
Q: Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney for Arsenal in the summer?
"If I was Mikel Arteta and I was looking to sign either Toney or Watkins in the summer, I’d look at what I need as a manager.
“I would personally look for a younger player who has enormous quality.
"They are both the same age, 28, and both players are completely different. They have a different style so it all depends on what Arteta is looking for.
"Toney is brilliant at holding the ball up and amazing at finishing, but Watkins perhaps has the edge in regards to his movement in the box.
"It depends what Arteta ultimately wants and I’m sure he will sign a striker in the summer."
Q: Arsenal vs Bayern next in the Champions League - what’s your prediction for the first leg?
"The first Arsenal-Bayern game is at the Emirates and we cannot forget, Harry Kane will be back.
"Kane always scores against Arsenal and at the Emirates too. It will be a great game and we know that Bayern won’t be champions in the Bundesliga, so for the Bayern players it will be very important for them to qualify for the next round.
"It won’t be easy for Arsenal as they are still in the race for the title, it will be tough for Arsenal to qualify.
"I think Arsenal can make a surprise in the Champions League, so I’m still picking Arsenal to go through."
Q: Luton at home tomorrow night, please can I have a score prediction for that game?
"Arsenal will beat Luton and it could be a rout. I think they will win by more than three goals.
"Arsenal at home are a brilliant team and I think Luton perform much worse away, so they will win comfortably and they will not concede."
Q: Who do you rate most highly amongst France's current young centre-backs?
"France have so many talented young centre-backs. It’s always the same question, though, and that is which one is going to be consistent? Which ones are going to be the number ones?
"Unfortunately, it’s difficult for William Saliba to be in the starting XI because you have Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool and DayotUpamecano from Bayern, and sometimes he can be magnificent, but sometimes he can be a disaster as he’s not consistent.
"That’s why it’s a big problem for Didier Deschamps to know exactly who is going to be the number one, or the partnership at centre-back!
"For every other country, Saliba would probably walk into the XI with ease, but with France, it’s different and that is very tough for him - especially as they have been so successful in recent years.
"We have some young centre-backs in the French team, that’s for sure."
Q: Compare the atmosphere playing in a North London derby as opposed to PSG vs Marseille?
"How do I compare the atmospheres in the north London derby to PSG vs Marseille? To be honest, both of them are crazy.
"I don’t know how to explain it, they are very different, but both of them are just: Wow.
"When I was at Marseille, their fans were really, really crazy. The football fans are crazy about their club and when they play PSG, they are talking about it for weeks before.
"All the fans just speak about that game and that game only, but the problem is that in France, Marseille are not on the same level as PSG. When I was playing, that was different, the difference between the two teams was much smaller.
"That’s why when Arsenal play against Tottenham, it’s a different level, most of the time you don’t know who is going to win.
"But for Marseille vs PSG, most of the time, Marseille fans know that they will lose against PSG most of the time."
Q: What did you think of the match between OM and PSG?
"I didn’t watch the game but I saw the result between the teams and I said, most people knew PSG would win.
"I hope that Marseille improves their team next year and challenges PSG as it’d be great for my former club to win trophies again in France.
"PSG winning in France happens every year and it’d be brilliant to see another club challenge them and also improve the level of French teams in the European competitions."
Q: Do you think Brest can finish on the Ligue 1 podium?
"Brest are doing a great job this season and it looks like they can finish in the top three, for sure.
"Only time will tell, though! It would be a brilliant achievement if they did."
Q: Have the two friendly matches of the France team worried you for Euro 2024? Which player could be THE surprise for Didier Deschamps in the list in June?
"Kylian Mbappe will always be France’s superstar, but the team also relies so much on Antoine Griezmann, who has been unbelievable for them over the last decade.
"Griezmann is injured at the moment, but he is so important to Didier Deschamps. When he will be fit, he will be that player who we need to win the game.
"Mbappe is Mbappe and we will watch him, but Griezmann is that guy who can do something else, maybe play the most important pass to win the match for his country.
"As a Frenchman, I think it will be between France and England for the trophy this summer.
"I also think Germany are a top contender and won’t be too far from winning."
Q: You were trained at INF Clairefontaine: is it still the ultimate place for you to be trained as a footballer? And why is it a guarantee of quality?
"What did I make of Clairefontaine? To be honest, to be trained at Clairefontaine doesn’t necessarily make you a great player.
"It doesn’t mean you’re going to have a big career. Everyone forgets about the players who were there but didn’t make it.
"At Clairefontaine, you get the opportunity to receive one of the best training you can receive and make you develop in the right way, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to have a big career.
"Clairefontaine was so special but ultimately it’s up to the player to decide their fate and whether they make it in the game or not."
