Thursday 13 October 2016 11:00, UK
Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda expects “gentleman” Claudio Ranieri to get a wonderful reception from Blues fans when he returns to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Ranieri managed Chelsea for four seasons before being replaced by Jose Mourinho following Roman Abrahamovich's takeover of the club in 2004.
The 64-year-old brings his Premier League champions Leicester to west London on Saturday afternoon, live on Sky Sports 1, and Malouda says Ranieri will always retain a special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans.
"I wasn't there at his time but I remember everybody at Chelsea talking very positively about him," Malouda told Sky Sports.
"He came to visit the training ground a few times when Carlo [Ancelotti] was in charge so I met him a few times and he was a real gentleman.
"He's very respected by the Chelsea fans and they are always very loyal to him. They really appreciated what he did for the club at that time and there is some kind of romantic love between them and Claudio Ranieri.
"For him I'm sure it will be a great feeling to be back at Stamford Bridge as a Premier League champion. I am very confident he will receive a warm reception but I hope he doesn't get the result he's expecting!"
Malouda, who joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2007, won five major trophies including the Champions League during six years with the Blues.
"I have been a part of the club's history and I still have a lot of friends there," Malouda added. "I know I am always welcome there.
"It's like Lyon for me. I am home when I go there and every door is open. I feel bad when the results are not good but at the same time I know how strong the club is and I hope the club will soon be back on top."
Malouda is currently in his second spell with Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos and the 36-year-old says he is delighted to be back in the Indian capital.
"It's a good feeling," he said.
"The season finished last December and we always kept in touch. To be back is like being back with your family. The technical staff and the board are the same and the hotel we stay at is the same.
"It feels like coming back home and it's like you are already settled, so you are ready to go and ready to play and that's a very comfortable feeling."
