ESPN calls it a nightmare, while The Daily Mail boisterously proclaims that Florent Malouda is positively suffering in hell. Chelsea hell, that is. Other sources are not quite so bold, but they all do manage to work in "outcast" in some fashion. Unsurprisingly, correctly or not, it's the club that's getting most of the blame for this Malouda Situation.
After all, it was the club's decision to unceremoniously demote the veteran player and have him train away from the first team at the U-21 facilities. Going back a bit further, it was also the club's decision to award Malouda whatever contract he's determined to see out. While it's been clear all summer that Malouda is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, both player and club are to blame for failing to work out a mutual plan to resolve this situation. Now that Florent has taken to twitter for a public airing of grievances, the situation is threatening to blow up in the face of a fantastic league start by Chelsea.
But just when it all looked lost, just when the night seemed the darkest, appearing from the bosom of the winery, clad in the purest shimmering samite, an angel boomed in glorious voice:
Our door is always open to former players. Malouda has been in contact with our coaching team very recently.
- Jean-Michel Aulas, OL President
Ok, so it wasn't an angel, just the President of Olympique Lyonnais, the club from which Chelsea signed Malouda back in 2007. And, well, that's fantastic Mr. Knight-in-Shining-Armor, but where were y'all at while the transfer window was open? Malouda is now stuck here until January unless you manage to work out some extraordinary loan circumstance.
Can we work out some extraordinary loan circumstance?