DESCHAMPS NO LONGER FEELING BLUE
Deschamps joins Chris Sutton in the main names moving from Chelsea this close season and the sum of nearly £10 million pounds for the pair will represent good trading to many of the Blues' fans. At the age of 31, Deschamps hardly set the Premiership alight - especially compared to France's other recent exports - and would himself not mark the 1999-2000 season as one of his best in a long and illustrious career.
The World Cup and European championship winner with France may have added the FA Cup to his remarkable collection of medals, but Deschamps failed to adapt to the English game with sufficient alacrity despite some commanding performances in the Champions League.
The diminutive battler often found the pace of the game too much and failed to register a single goal all season from his central midfield position. This is perhaps not overly remarkable given the Frenchman's poor scoring record at club and international level, but fans may have been surprised to see such a distinct lack of creativity in Deschamps' play, supplying just one goal assist in 1999-2000.
Former Manchester United footballer-turned-film-star Eric Cantona once blasted Deschamps attacking play, dubbing him 'The Water Carrier' of the French team. This unfortunate nickname appeared to live with the Chelsea man as he proceeded to be overshadowed by the Blues' captain Dennis Wise. The Londoner not only embarked on more dribbles and runs than his Gallic team-mate, but also made over 200 more passes in the opposition half.
Despite that fact that Deschamps time in the Premiership may have transpired to be rather uninspiring for the West London faithful, the loss of the Frenchman is still a blow to Gianluca Vialli's hopes of pushing Manchester United closer for the championship than in previous seasons. Deschamps was a vital squad member with excellent experience and a revered pedigree. Without him, Chelsea's title credentials may have taken a grave, if not irretrievable, blow.
