Tiemoue Bakayoko wants to stay at Chelsea for a ‘long time’ and emulate Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba

 

Tiemoue Bakayoko has revealed his intentions to stay at Chelsea for a ‘long time’ and emulate club legends Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba.
France international Bakayoko joined the Premier League champions over the summer from Monaco and has made an instant impression at Stamford Bridge.

The powerful midfielder worked with Makelele while in Ligue 1 and says the France legend made a significant impression on him and his game.
‘I hope to stay a long time at Chelsea because it’s a great club,’ Bakayoko the news.
‘And to emulate not only what Claude Makelele did but what other great players did, like Drogba.’
On Makelele’s impact, he said: ‘Claude arrived at Monaco and spent six months at the club, and sought me out immediately.

‘He told me he believed me, counted on me, told me what I had to work on. Showed what areas I had to work on and improve so I could offer more.

‘I knew the big player he’d been, such a glittering career as one of the best midfielders in the world, so I knew it was important to take on board what he said, and to listen to everything he told me.
‘Over time I felt I did improve as a player and gained in confidence, and a lot of that was down to Claude. Today, even now, he helps me now that I am here in England.’

Former Chelsea and France midfielder Claude Makelele (Picture: Getty)

Bakayoko, who cost Chelsea £40million, added: ‘Claude is still someone who helps me a lot. He is someone I speak with and he brings so much experience in the advice he gives me.
‘What‘s more, being at Chelsea — a club where he played — it means it’s only natural I’m going to listen to every single word he tells me.
‘I know that it is through listening to someone like that I’ll progress and improve as a player so that I succeed here.’