Marcel Desailly

World Cup winner and football legend Marcel Desailly sat down with OLBG to reflect on his time at AC Milan and Chelsea, share insights on today’s top talents, and weigh in on football’s biggest questions — from leadership and legacy to who he feared marking most.

Q: We'll kick things off with AC Milan, one of your former clubs. What was your best memory during your time at the club?

Wow, there's a lot of things that happened before I reached AC Milan. Milan was the time where I was at my prime, I think. Where everything went perfect. All the stars were aligned for me to join this team with the 4-4-2 philosophy on the pressing of the opponent.

Playing midfielder, where I was a defender normally, things went perfect with the leadership of Maldini, Baresi and many more. It was an absolutely magnificent period for me.

Q: Looking at Milan today under Allegri, they've gone top of Serie A. How do you rate their performance so far and can they win the title this season?

I would just have to say that we are disappointed because Milan had two magnificent eras. They had the era with Sacchi, with Capello. They had a magnificent time with Ancelotti — for me, the best team ever Milan had, based on the individual quality of players. You remember Gattuso, Pirlo, Shevchenko, Seedorf… it was an absolutely magnificent Milan.

Now we are just kind of hoping that Milan will get back to the grade we had in the past. When Maldini joined the management of AC Milan, they had that luck, that spirit. A few years ago, they won the league — no one knows how — but you could see the winning mentality coming back into the system.

Now we are managing. We are hoping. Milan have good players. Maybe the leadership within those players is not enough. But with the arrival of Rabiot and Modric, it brings Milan to another level. If everyone performs at the same time, then Milan can come back into the system.

Q: One player we wanted to ask you about is, like you, a former Chelsea player — Christian Pulisic. How important has he become for Milan?

Christian Pulisic // Picture: cristiano barni / alamy

I was very happy to see him coming to Milan. Last year, he had a decent season on and off. Unfortunately, he gets injured and doesn’t have that consistency that you expect from a leader of your offensive animation. But he has talent — amazing talent. He’s one of those players you expect to lead the attacking side.

This is a vital year for him, especially being American. We expect him to perform. He’s meant to play a little bit on the right side. He’s not really a goal scorer, but I think out of six matches he’s scored four goals this season. He missed a penalty, but I’m pleased to see he’s turned things around. He has the quality to become the leader Milan are looking for.

Q: You shared a dressing room with legends like Maldini and Baresi. What was that like?

Oh, the Milan squad! Remember, I won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993, and Milan was this magnificent dream in our eyes. So the year after, when I joined them, it was like a dream — and it was a true dream. An amazing club.

Back then, Silvio Berlusconi had put in place all the infrastructure — Milanello, the San Siro stadium — everything was just amazing. The Italian spirit was the foundation. Most of the players were Italian internationals — eight of them were national team players, and they were the leaders of the AC Milan squad. It was all about winning. It was all about performance at the highest level.

Q: Chelsea's current squad is full of young, exciting talent. Is there one player that stands out to you most?

Before talking about the talents Chelsea has, I’d say that three years ago they started buying players with the idea of building the Chelsea of the future. They brought in Caicedo, Palmer, and many more — they even tried with some Portuguese players. The idea and spirit were good, though nobody really understood what Chelsea was doing at the time.

Caicedo // Picture: Vitalii Vitleo/shutterstock

They bought players like Caicedo at double the price of their actual value back then. Now, two years later, he might finally be worth that price. The long-term project is clear — the way they sign players with long-term contracts is about keeping them in the system financially and building success over time.

They had a good season last season — they won the Club World Cup. So yes, there’s progress. I’m not sure they’re ready to compete for the Premier League just yet. They need to build leadership consistency around players like Palmer. I still think they need an experienced striker to take the team to another level.

Q: One area Chelsea seem light in right now is defence. Is that a concern for you?

The defence is quite young and they’ve had injuries. Maresca plays with different tactics — sometimes a three, sometimes a four — and he asks his central defenders to go forward and join the midfield.

You need a strong defensive block — the four defenders plus two midfielders. Maresca is asking Fernandez to be involved in the offensive play and still defend in front of the back line. That’s not easy. It’s about finding the right balance.

They have good defenders, but in my opinion, they’re too focused on retrieving the ball rather than defending first. You need to defend correctly and let others take care of the attack. It’s all about balance. Hopefully, the squad is big enough to find that stability.

Q: As we head toward the January transfer window, is there one player you’d love to see Chelsea sign?

Darwin Núñez // Picture: News Images LTD / alamy

Darwin Núñez, for me. Perfect. Spot on. He’s young and had some bad luck at Liverpool, but if they signed him, it’s because they saw real potential.

I wanted Darwin Núñez to come into a confident system with Maresca. That could have really helped Chelsea. He’s not too expensive either. If he’s still in the market — and if Saudi isn’t suiting him — he could be the one to come in.

Q: One signing who started well is Estêvão. Do you think he could become Chelsea’s next superstar, maybe even the next Eden Hazard?

He’s a young player with a good record. He was playing at Palmeiras — funny enough, he scored against Chelsea during the Club World Cup! He clearly has talent.

He hasn’t scored any goals yet this season, but the potential is obvious. He just needs time. He has to adapt to the Premier League’s speed and physical intensity. I had to do that myself when I came to England — the rock! I had to adjust to the pace and fighting spirit.

He was magnificent at Palmeiras, but the Premier League is different. You can do whatever you want — but you must adapt. The talent is there, and we hope he’ll deliver the value Chelsea are looking for.

Q: You recently played alongside Hazard again in the Chelsea Legends match. He’s only 34 — did he retire too early?

From the outside, football looks easy. People think players are just earning millions. But when a player retires, it means he’s had enough — of the training, the pressure, the lifestyle.

Hazard probably felt protected at Chelsea, where it all worked through talent alone. But at Real Madrid, you need to give something extra — at training, in your diet, your intensity. He couldn’t give that, and maybe he realised that.

Yes, he retired early, but it was for the right reasons. People don’t always understand why someone earning millions walks away at 34 — but football takes a different kind of commitment. It’s not just about the money. It’s physical, emotional, and very demanding.

Q: You played with some big characters at Chelsea. Any behind-the-scenes stories you can share?

Yes! We were at Harlington training ground back then — it was awful compared to Cobham now. Every Wednesday, we had to move quickly from the dressing room because university students would come in and take over our space in the afternoon.

Imagine — Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Lampard, Zola, Terry, Poyet, myself — all rushing to shower and carry our gear out while still wet in a towel. Coming from AC Milan, I couldn’t believe it! Even in Abramovich’s early years, that still happened. It’s crazy to remember.

And at Cobham, we trained near the airport. You could see planes taking off — and when the Concorde took off, training had to stop. It was so loud the coach couldn’t speak. Everyone just waited until it cleared before restarting!

Q: What have you made of Chelsea’s start to the season? After two trophies last year, what can they realistically aim for now?

Last year, nobody expected them to win the Conference League or the Club World Cup. People thought they were too young and inconsistent. Yes, they had talent — but not enough experience. The Premier League is super difficult. You need seasoned players for tough places like Newcastle or Anfield.

Players like Fernandez are stepping up, but to win the Premier League, Chelsea need that “super player” — someone hungry for fame and stats, not already world-famous. That kind of player can elevate the whole team.

They’re still building. The Premier League is a different beast. It’s not like winning the Club World Cup — consistency is everything.

Q: Leny Yoro recently signed for Manchester United. Do you think he might move again if things don’t work out there?

Leny Yoro // Picture: Independent Photo Agency / alamy

He’s young and was bought for a big fee. He still has to prove he’s up to the level. He’s played about seven games this season — so yes, the consistency is coming, but there’s more to learn. He needs to become United’s first-choice defender.

He came from Lille and has real potential. I’m pleased to see Maguire back as well — the ghost Maguire scored, by the way!

He reminds me a bit of Varane when Madrid signed him young. Yoro could be key for United’s future. He’s not in the French national team yet — there are better players still ahead of him — but we wait and see.

Q: Can Kylian Mbappé go on to become the greatest French player of all time?

Mbappé made the move that could take him to Ballon d'Or level. He had amazing years at PSG — though surrounded by stars, the team didn’t really shine.

When he was 24 or 25, he was incredible. His agility and speed back then were sharper than they are now. Even so, he left Paris with a 42-goal season and kept scoring after joining Madrid.

But Madrid has dipped a bit. Ancelotti struggled to make the team sparkle. Tactically, something was missing. Mbappé still delivers, but his link with Vinícius isn’t perfect. The stats are there, but he’s missing that final piece to become a Ballon d’Or winner.

Q: Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d'Or. Were you surprised? And does he deserve it?

Amazing player. Remember, Barcelona paid €150 million for him — they saw massive potential. It didn’t work at Barça: different philosophy, Messi’s presence, and lots of injuries.

At PSG, that changed. Injuries reduced. A coaching shift changed his position, and Luis Enrique gave him a winning mentality. At first, Dembélé didn’t understand what the coach wanted — but once they connected, everything clicked.

I still think he’s at 70% of his capacity. He misses too many chances — he’s not fully a striker. But the dribbling, right foot, left foot — he’s incredible. With better finishing, he’ll get even better. I’m pleased he beat Yamal to the Ballon d’Or. He earned it — and he’s not done yet.

Q: If you were to become a manager, is there a club that would be your dream to manage?

AC Milan — because of the San Siro, the club, the infrastructure. Yes, Milan is in my heart. Chelsea and Marseille are too, but if I had to choose one, it’s Milan.

Q: Who, in your opinion, is the best player in the world right now?

Yamal. He has the potential. He’s showing stability and consistency, and his Euro performance was key. What he’s doing at 17 is incredible. He could be as successful as Messi — maybe even better when you compare their stats at that age. The potential is there.

Q: How much would a prime Marcel Desailly cost in today’s market?

If it’s the Desailly of 1995/96 — probably around £70 to £80 million. That’s similar to what Zidane and Ronaldo were going for. Not the Chelsea version of me though — I was already 30. That version would go for about £40 million!

Q: Is there anyone in today’s game who reminds you of your own style?

Dayot Upamecano. He plays for Bayern and France. I like his explosiveness. He’s had some difficulty getting into the French national team with Saliba and Konaté ahead, but I rate him highly.

Q: Who was the best leader you ever played with?

Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi. John Terry was a natural leader too — and learned from the best. Didier Deschamps also had that natural leadership quality. But Maldini? He was something else. Tactical awareness, calm, and commanding.

Q: Which striker did you hate playing against?

Ronaldo, the Brazilian. When I was at Milan and he was at Inter — you couldn’t stop him. We had to double or triple mark him.

Other difficult ones were Inzaghi — always in the right place in the box — and Alan Shearer. So tough physically and always ready to battle. Those were the toughest to deal with.

Q: Most underrated teammate?

Gianfranco Zola. You saw how great he was at Chelsea, but I saw more at Parma and Napoli. He deserved more recognition.

Others would be David Trezeguet and Alen Bokšić — both were brilliant, but never got the credit they truly deserved.

Q: One player you wish you played with?

Ronaldo the Brazilian — obviously. But also Diego Maradona. I would have been ready to die for him! What a player. For today's generation, I’d love to have played with Kevin De Bruyne — his intelligence, vision, passing — just unreal.

Q: Who was the hardest teammate — physically tough — you ever had?

Patrick Vieira was tough. Edgar Davids too. He was one of the toughest — Ajax days, Champions League winner. He played with such intensity and bite. That whole Ajax team — Kluivert, Seedorf, Rijkaard — they were all incredible. Proper warriors.