Makelele: Chelsea in a mess

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has said that his club is in a mess now that Jose Mourinho has left the club. Mourinho's departure has supposedly "destabilised" Chelsea and resulted in the players losing their fighting spirit. Makelele has played in all five games since Grant took over, but revealed when he signed his most recent contract extension under Mourinho, there was an agreement that he would play only the important games.

"When I extended my contract last summer, I had an agreement with Mourinho - he would play me for the most important matches but not every three days," he told L'Equipe.

"His departure has messed everything up. The team was suddenly left to itself.

"Coach Grant needed my experience, that's why he has played me often.

"Mourinho has created stability for three years. His departure has destabilised most of the players, especially the youngsters.

"It was very difficult. We had to be self-managing to rediscover Chelsea's fighting spirit - we had lost that a little."