Chelsea's Florent Malouda saddened by Joe Cole exit, but says main target next season is retaining Premier League title

Posted Thursday, July 01, 2010 by Goal.com

Playmaker's release puzzling, but more trophies targeted

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has pinpointed defending the Premier League title as the Blues' priority for next season - though he admits that having to do so without the services of England winger Joe Cole saddens him.

Cole was relased by Chelsea and, as Goal.com has revealed, looks to be on his way to Arsenal.

Malouda was unhappy to see his team-mate leave and is uncertain as to the exact reasons for his departure.

"Joe has spent so many years at Chelsea, that it's really strange. I don't know why [he was allowed to leave]," he mused.

"I think everybody enjoyed the way he was committed to the club.".

However, the Frenchman is looking ahead to new targets. And while retaining the Premier League crown will be the club's main aim, on a personal level Malouda's ambition remains bringing European glory to Stamford Bridge by helping Chelsea win the Champions League.

"First is to defend the league. We were fighting last year to get the league back. We have to defend our trophy," he told Sky Sports News.

"After that [it's] the Champions League. I wish in my Chelsea career that I could touch that trophy and lift that trophy, but I won't give up, even if we fail next year, which I don't want, but I won't give up."

As for winning the title last season, Malouda cites the win at Manchester United on April 3 as the key point in the campaign.

"That's where we took the trophy back because after that we knew [with] that one point [lead] we had to defend it," he added.

"To win the league at the last game in the way we did it was incredible. The key was ambition, hard work every day and commitment.

"It was an obsession to become champions."

The winger is also tipping some of the Blues' youngsters to make an impact on the first team next season.

"I think the fans always want big names and that's normal, but I think the club has a strategy to improve and try to bring on the young players," he said.

"[Gael] Kakuta, [Fabio] Borini, [Jeffrey] Bruma. My friend Patrick van Aanholt. I hope that they can have the opportunity to wear that shirt."